DAMAGE PERFORMANCE OF PARTICLES FILLED QUASI-ISOTROPIC GLASS-FIBER-REINFORCED POLYESTER RESIN COMPOSITES

The purpose of this work was to determine the toughening mechanisms in interlayered quasi-isotropic glass fibre reinforced polyester resin ( GFRP) composites. Particles of polyethylene and aluminium tri-hydrate, Al(OH)(3), were mixed with the polyester resin prior to laminating wi th woven E-glass-fibre cloth. Mode-I, mode-II, and impact tests were p erformed to determine critical strain energy-release rates (G(Ic) and G(IIc)), absorbed energy and residual compressive strength for the lam inates with and without particulate additions. Mode-I and mode-II dela mination toughness were characterized using double cantilever beam (DC B) and end-notched flexure (ENF) specimens, respectively, and the dela minated surfaces of specimens were examined using scanning electron mi croscopy (SEM) to investigate the interlaminar morphology after fractu re. The results indicate that the interlaminar toughness (G(Ic) and G( IIc)), absorbed energy and residual compressive strength values of the GFRP composite increases with increase of particle content. The impro ved behaviour of particle containing GFRP is linked to stress-concentr ation induced plastic deformation and crack bridging. Polyethylene par ticles increase the toughness of the matrix material, which results in composites with higher values of mode-I, mode-II and impact than the composites with aluminium tri-hydrate particles. (C) 1998 Chapman & Ha ll.