Compression-after-impact (CAI) performance of epoxycarbon fibre-reinforced nanocomposites using nanosilica and rubber particle enhancement

B Nikfar ^1, and J Njuguna ²

1. Department of Automotive Engineering, Polytechnic of Turin, Turin, Italy
2. IDEAS Research Institute, School of Engineering, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen;

Riverside East, Garthdee Road, Aberdeen AB10 7GJ, United Kingdom

Email: behzad.nikfar@studenti.polito.it; j.njuguna@rgu.ac.uk 

Abstract. One of the problems in the design of automotive structures and body parts made by fibre reinforced composites is that these materials are susceptible to a small energy impact caused by for instance, accidental tool drop during maintenance or stone strike while in operation. This often lead to a barely visible impact damage which causes reduction in compressive strength of the composite part. To increase the impact tolerance of the composites, toughening agents like silica nanoparticles and rubber particles can be utilized to toughen the resin. To understand the effect of the particles enhancement, the impact tolerance was evaluated utilizing Compression After Impact (CAI) test after the impact induced by gasgun impacting equipment. The result s from CAI test after 20 J impact (high energy stone strike) shows about 30% improvement in residual compressive strength for the nanosilica enhanced composite compared to unmodified CFRP. Also C-scan result s after 7 J impact shows about 50% smaller delamination area for the nano-enhanced composite.

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