Strength Degradation of Mechanical Properties of Unidirectional E-Glass Fiber Epoxy Resin Nanoclay Composites under Hygrothermal Loading Conditions

Glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) plays a vital role in many industries because of its high strength to weight ratio. Its strength properties are somewhat lower than carbon fibre and it is less stiff and brittle. Using glass fibre in industries because of its raw material is much less expensive with compare to other materials. In the present work, the epoxy resin was modified using natural montmorillonite Closite 30B (1 wt%, 3 wt%, 5 wt%) nanoclay is used with E-glass unidirectional fiber to manufacture fiber reinforced nanocomposite using hand layup method. Three different types of fiber reinforced nanocomposites are fabricated using 1wt% nanoclay, 3wt% nanoclay and 5wt% nanoclay with 30% wt fiber, epoxy resin and hardener. The epoxy resin and hardener are mixed in 10:4 weight ratios. Three different test, tensile test, hardness test and flexural test were measured through using mechanical test instruments. The mechanical test shows that the tensile and flexural strength for 3wt% nanoclay composite is more compared to 1wt% and 5wt% nanoclay composite. To improve the flexural and tensile properties are 57% and 8% respectively by adding 3wt% of nanoclay. Micro hardness test for 3wt% of nanoclay composite is higher compare to 1wt% and 5wt% nanoclay composite and further increase beyond 3wt% nanoclay hardness start decreasing. Further check durability the specimen were immersed in water and NaOH baths under accelerated hygrothermal loading for 30 days. Due to accelerated hygrothermal loading it is observed that the mechanical properties degradation in NaOH environment was more severe as compared to simple water. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd.