Thermo-mechanical response of post-plasma irradiated E-glass fibre/epoxy composite

Due to some emerging advantages like excellent corrosion resistance, high specific strength, enhanced fatigue resistance, GFRP Composites gained a wide domain of applications in various components of civil infrastructures, aerospace & marine sectors. However, the polymer matrix in GFRP Composite must possess optimum desired curing strength during their applications. Adequate amount of curing strength is not achieved by some conventional curing techniques. Radiations like gamma, plasma, microwave, ultra-violet are some potential curing environments which may impart considerable curing strength in the polymeric matrix. Out of all such radiation, plasma radiation causes the fast radical migration process by which sufficient curing can be achieved within a limited period. It is on this context, that, 18 layered E-Glass fibre/Epoxy (GE) Composites, as prepared through hand lay-up technique, were exposed to plasma radiation of power 30 W up to maximum duration of 30 min. The plasma treated composites are mechanically characterized through 3-point bend test to reveal inter laminar shear strength (ILSS) with respect to duration of exposure. ILSS of plasma-treated GE Composite was increased with duration of exposure & remain stagnant after 25 min. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) test of such plasma treated composites indicate the trend of glass transition temperature (T-g), being increased with increase in duration. Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) test of plasma-treated composites for optimum duration exhibit the weight loss in agreement with the results pertaining to ILSS. The SEM fractographs of plasma treated composites are silent about the failure modes like matrix cracking and fibre breaking representing optimum curing strength as a result of plasma radiation. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.