Effect of cellulose nanofibers on the fracture toughness mode II of glass fiber/epoxy composite laminates.

Content Provider	Europe PMC
Author	Moustapha Sarr, Mouhamadou Kosaka, Tatsuro
Copyright Year	2023
Abstract	Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) were used to improve the fracture toughness of glass fiber reinforced epoxy composites (GFRPs). Different CNF suspensions were prepared and sprayed onto the surface of woven glass fiber laminates. The vacuum resin transfer molding (VaRTM) process was used to manufacture the GFRP composites. End notch flexure tests were conducted to evaluate the effect of CNFs on the critical energy release rate in mode II fracture toughness GIIC. The results revealed that 0.05 wt% was the optimum concentration. The interlaminar fracture toughness GIIC was improved by 28% with the addition of 0.05 wt% of CNFs to GF/epoxy composites. Whereas 0.1 wt% of CNFs resulted in decreasing GIIC due to the uncomplete impregnation of GF with epoxy resin caused by the thicker CNF layer at the interfacial laminates. The toughening mechanisms were investigated using a field-emission electron microscope. Large epoxy deformations and shear hackles were predominant for improving the interlaminar fracture toughness of GFRP composites.
Journal	Heliyon
Volume Number	9
PubMed Central reference number	PMC9898643
Issue Number	2
PubMed reference number	36747534
e-ISSN	24058440
DOI	10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13203
Language	English
Publisher	Elsevier
Publisher Date	2023-01-22
Access Restriction	Open
Rights License	This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Subject Keyword	Glass fiber reinforced polymer Cellulose nanofibers Interlaminar fracture toughness End notch flexural test
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Multidisciplinary