Effect of Healing Agent Filled Microcapsules on Tensile Strength of Glass Fibre Reinforced Epoxy Composite Laminate

Abstract

This work focuses on the study of variation in behaviour of Glass Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Composite laminate in the presence of healing agent filled microcapsules. Healing capacity was tested for the newly developed laminate with capsules. Two types of microcapsules were made and included in the resin system. One type consists of healing agent and other type consists of curing agent. These capsules were blended in the ratio of 10:3 in the resin system and laminate was fabricated by hand lay-up technique. Initially, the effect of microcapsules on the tensile properties of glass fiber epoxy composites was studied. No conspicuous variation was discerned in the tensile nature. The healing ability of the laminate was checked by producing minor indentation damage on the surface of the laminate with a 0.5 mm ball indenter. It was noticed that 80% of the indentation was recovered within the time span of 48 hours and 93% of healing efficiency was attained. FE analysis was performed with MIDAS NFX software to confirm the results. Both experimental and FE analysis results were observed to be identical.