Multi-Fillers GFRP Laminated Composite Plates: Fabrication & Properties

Abstract

It is a common practice to enhance the strength of composites; the constituent materials (fiber/matrix) are altered. Theaddition of filler materials such as graphene can fulfil the need. However, the cost of graphene limits its use as a commonfiller material. In this regard, some other substitutes of filler or scheme of material preparation needs to be explored. In thiswork, bi-directional woven E-glass fabric epoxy composite laminated plates (LCPs) are fabricated using the hand layuptechnique. Graphene and flyash is used as filler. Ten types of LCPs are fabricated by altering the fillers at the designatedfabric layer. Various thermal, mechanical, and physical tests are conducted. It is observed, the interfacial chemical bonding,load transfer between fiber and matrix and surface quality is affected due to the presence of fillers. LCPs with graphene havesuperior physical and mechanical properties than the LCPs of flyash filler. However, adding graphene in targeted layerswithout adding to whole LCP or functionally-grading through layers can also enhance the strength of LCPs, e.g., graphenewhen added in outer layers of LCP makes hydrophobic, hard and thermally stable along with increasing tensile and flexuralstrengths.