Effects of nano-SiO2 on mechanical and hygric behaviors of glass fiber reinforced epoxy composites

Abstract

AbstractThe unmodified and nano-SiO2modified glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites were prepared by the hot-compression molding process to investigate the effects of nano-SiO2on the mechanical and hygric properties of the GFRP composites. The results indicate that the nano-SiO2modification results in an increase of 9.7% and 7.9% in the tensile and flexural strength of the GFRP composites, and a decrease of 10.6% in the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS). The maximum swelling of the unmodified GFRP is 2.6 times as that of the nano-SiO2modified GFRP. The normalized-ILSS decrease of the nano-SiO2modified GFRP is only 12% after 138 days aging, while that of the GFRP reaches 31%. After 95-days hygric-aging, the decrease of the normalized flexural strength is 15.3% for the GFRP, while the normalized flexural strength of the nano-SiO2modified GFRP still maintains an increase of 5.0%. It is concluded that the nano-SiO2particle could improve the mechanical and hygric properties of the GFRP composites.