Effect of Cure Kinetics and Addition of Various Nanomaterials on Glass Fiber/Vinyl Ester Composites

Abstract

In this article, optimization of post-cure temperature for glass fiber/vinyl ester (GVE) composite at 80°C, 110°C and 140°C for 6 hr was studied. Mechanical strength and glass transition temperature (Tg) of GVE composites reinforced with 0.1 wt.% of various nanofillers such as carboxyl functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube (CNT-COOH), nanoclay (surface-modified), nano alumina (Al2O3) and nano silica (SiO2) was investigated. Optimum properties for GVE composite were obtained at 140°C post-cure temperature. With the incorporarion of nanomaterials, flexural properties were improved whereas significant improvement acquired in the case of nanoclay GVE composite with a optimum flexural strength of 381.16 MPa and Tg of 102°C. Post failure analysis of the tested samples was studied using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) at room temperature.