An investigation on low-velocity impact behavior of composite laminates containing nano-particle resin system

Analysis on delamination and penetration/perforation that may occur as a result of the low velocity impact in the multilayer composite structures is of great importance. In this thesis, the low velocity impact behavior of the aramid fiber reinforced epoxy composite plates, containing nano-particles, are studied experimentally. During the production of epoxy based composite plates reinforced with nano-particles, the effects of the TiC and ZrC nano-particle contribution which was added into the epoxy resin on low velocity impact behavior of the composite plates were studied. In the study, nano-particles were added into epoxy resin by 1 % in weight, and then epoxy hardener was added into this mixture by the rate of 1/6 and they were homogenized by means of an ultrasonic mixer. Nano-particle free, ZrC and TiC nano-particle containing composite plates were produced with hand lay-up method in such a way to obtain [0°/45]7 orientation with 7 layers of aramid fiber fabric in dimensions 100 x 100 mm. Then, the behavior of the composite plates produced with hand lay-out method against low velocity impact by means of an impactor dropped from a fixed height with a fixed potential energy were studied. In the low velocity impact tests, plates containing titanium nano-particles yielded 19 % less penetration depth in comparison with particle free plates. In order words, it showed more resistance against the impact by 19 % compared to particle free plates. On the other hand, although plates containing zirconium nano-particles are more resistant to low velocity impacts in comparison with particle free plates by 4 %, but, it has been determined that its contribution in terms of impact resistance remained lower than the plates containing titanium nano-particles. KEYWORDS: Nano-particles, ZiC, TiC, aramid composite plates, low-velocity impact test