Dynamic mechanical behaviour of kevlar and carbon-kevlar hybrid fibre reinforced polymer composites

Abstract

Comprehensive experimental results of dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) of polymer reinforced textile composites are presented in the current investigation. Plain and 2x2 twill woven multilayer fabrics of monolithic kevlar and hybrid carbon-kevlar (C-K) are reinforced into the thermoset polymer matrix. Kevlar/epoxy and C-K/epoxy composite laminates are fabricated using an in-house facility of the vacuum-assisted resin infusion process. Variation of the visco-elastic behaviour (storage modulus, damping factor and glass transition temperature, Tg) along with time, temperature and frequency is studied for the composites. Dynamic mechanical analysis is performed under temperature sweep with frequency ranging from 1-50 Hz. Results depict the effect of inter yarn hybridisation of carbon with kevlar yarns on the storage modulus, damping performance, and creep behaviour of dry textile composites. Temperature swept dynamic characterisation is also performed to evaluate the degradation and damping performance of the composite laminates soaked in the deionised water at glass transition temperature Tg, ½ Tg, and ¾ Tg. The morphological study has been performed post the dynamic mechanical analysis using field emission scanning electron microscope.