Investigation of the effects of nanoparticle reinforcement on the mechanical properties of woven composites.

Nanoparticles are used in many areas related to composite materials. Recently, the importance of nanoparticle‐reinforced materials in advanced technology has been gradually increasing. In this study, epoxy reinforced with various nanoparticles, and neat epoxy were used to produce woven composites. The fatigue behaviors of woven composites reinforced with various nanoparticles under tension‐compression fatigue loads were investigated. The tensile and fatigue strengths of woven composites enhanced with nanoparticles were compared with woven composites without nanoparticles. Tensile tests showed that the woven composites reinforced with nanoparticles were damaged at high loads. Fatigue tests revealed that the woven composites reinforced with nanoparticles exhibited high cycle numbers. Adding 0.5%, 1%, and %3 nano‐CuO to epoxy increased the cycle numbers of the woven composites by 25%, 67%, and 75% respectively at 60% load level. The failure mechanisms of woven type composite materials were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Fiber fractures and delamination damages of samples were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]