Dynamic mechanical behavior of nickel-aluminum reinforced epoxy composites

Epoxy-based composites reinforced with micron-sized Ni and micron or nano-sized Al powders were fabricated by casting/curing. The mechanical behavior of the composites was evaluated using elastic and plastic property measurements performed on rod-shaped samples. Dynamic reverse Taylor anvil-on-rod impact tests gave qualitative and quantitative information about the transient deformation and failure response of the composites. The composite containing 20wt% epoxy and nanosized Al powder showed the most superior mechanical properties in terms of elastic modulus, static compressive strength, and dynamic incremental areal and axial strains, as compared to the other cast materials. The results illustrate that nano-sized Al particles alter the deformation response of the composite and provide significant enhancement to the strength by dispersing in the epoxy and generating a nano Al-containing epoxy matrix with embedded Ni particles.