Interlaminar Fracture of Micro and Nano Composites.

The goal is to study the effect of the SiO2 micro and nano – particles addition on the strength of epoxy composite based on glass fibers using (2, 4, 6 and 8) wt% of SiO2, the interlaminar fracture toughness (GIC) of 16-plies [M]16 of woven roving glass fiber /epoxy composites prepared by hand lay – up technique were investigated, using DCB test (mode I). The results computed using area method shows that the Interlaminar fracture toughness was increase with the filler content, higher values of GIC were observed for nano SiO2 composites as compared to microcomposites, because nano SiO2 behave as a barrier for crack propagation and the large surface density of these nanoparticles take a position in the polymeric chain restricting the movement for these chains leading to higher values of GIC in comparison with micro SiO2. The lower value of GIC found in 6 and 8 wt% is lower because, of the agglomeration of nano particles. This reflects the behavior of laminated nanocomposites into the same as microcomposites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]