The effect of silicon carbide whiskers on the Mode I interlaminar fracture of carbon fiber composites. Issue 3 (15th February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abdelal, Nisrin R.; Aljarrah, Mohannad T.
• Is Part Of: Ceramics international. Volume 44:Issue 3(2018)
• Page Start: 2700
• Page End: 2708
• Publication Date: 2018-02-15
• Subjects: Silicon carbide -- Whiskers -- Interlaminar fracture toughness -- Mode I -- Carbon fiber -- Delamination; Ceramics -- Periodicals; Céramique industrielle -- Périodiques; Ceramics; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 666
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2017.10.220
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0272-8842

Abstract

Abstract: This paper reports on the Mode I interlaminar fracture toughness improvement of carbon fiber-epoxy composites as a result of incorporating SiC whiskers in the epoxy matrix. Five laminates of unidirectional carbon fiber-epoxy composites at different weight fractions of SiC whiskers were manufactured using hand layup vacuum bagging process. Optical and scanning electron microscopic analysis were conducted to give an insight into the fracture morphogoloy, failure mechanisms, and the energy dissipation mechanisms created by the presence of the whiskers in the composite. Experimental results showed that composites containing 5 wt% whiskers exhibited 67% increase in the crack initiation interlaminar fracture toughness GIC, whereas it exhibited 55% increase in the maximum GIC compared to pristine composite. The optical and SEM fractographs revealed a strong relation between the microstructure of the fractured surfaces and the energy release rate trend of the composites.