International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET)
Volume 9, Issue 12, December 2018,
201 pp. 1070–1077, Article ID: IJMET_09_12_10
107
Available online at http://www.iaeme.com/ijmet/issues.asp?JType=IJMET&VType=9&IType=12
ISSN Print: 0976-6340 and ISSN Online: 0976-6359
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MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
PROPERTIES OF UHMWPE
WOVEN FABRIC/EPOXY COMPOSITES
COMPOSITES
P.RajendraPrasad
Research Scholar, School of Mechanical Engineering,
Re University, Bangalore, INDIA;
Reva
Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering,
G.Pulla Reddy Engineering College, Kurnool, INDIA
J.N.Prakash
Research Supervisor,
Supervisor School of Mechanical Engineering,
Reva University, Bangalore, INDIA
L.H.Manjunath
School of Mechanical Engineering, Reva
Reva University, Bangalore, INDIA
ABSTRACT
Woven fabric reinforced composites or textile composites are more progressively
used in wide variety of industries such as aerospace, marine construction,
struction, automotive,
and sports due to their unique advantages over conventional materials such as metals
and ceramics.
Predominantly the Ultra–high
Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene
(UHMWPE) fiber/woven fabric composites comprise highest strength to weight ratio,
and outstanding features like environmental resistance and long life. In this article
mechanical properties
ies like Tensile, Flexural and Impact Strengths of Ultra-high
Ultra
molecular weight polyethylene plane woven fabric/Epoxy composites were
investigated as per ASTM standards.
standards For synthesis of these composites Hand lay-up
technique was adopted and commercially available
vailable plain woven fabric/mat of different
areal densities like 200 gsm and 240 gsm were used. To probe the bonding between
the reinforcement and matrix, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis is also
carried out. Areal density of 240 gsm woven fabric
fabric composite laminates possessed
high mechanical properties when compared to 200 gsm woven fabric composite
laminates.
Keywords: Woven fabric, Textile Composites,
Composites, UHMWPE, ASTM, and Hand lay-up.
Cite this Article: P.RajendraPrasad, J.N.Prakash and L.H.Manjunath, Mechanical
Properties of UHMWPE Woven Fabric/Epoxy Composites,
Composites International
ernational Journal of
Mechanical Engineering and Technology, 9(12), 2018, pp. 1070–1077.
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1. INTRODUCTION
From decades the traditional metals or materials have been replaced with Polymer matrix
composites (PMC) because of ease of processing, productivity, and cost reduction. Due to
their magnificent formability, low specific mass, high stiffness to weight and high strength to
weight ratios the fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) [1, 2] composites are utilized in numerous
fields of engineering structures, ship superstructures, marine, auto mobile, machine parts, and
the modern aerospace industries.
Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are made of thermosetting or thermoplastic
resins [11], with fiber or fabric reinforcement [2]. The fiber or fabric provides a load-bearing
effect while the resin contributes to transfer of loads to the fiber. Resins also protect the
fibers from environmental factors such as humidity, high temperature, and chemical attack
[2]. The FRP composites possess desired Mechanical properties like Tensile, Flexural, and
Impact strengths, these Mechanical properties of a FRP composites depend on the properties
of the fiber and matrix constituents, as well as the interface between the fiber and matrix [3].
The Thermosets (epoxies & phenolics) and Thermoplastics are used as matrix, and Fiber
glasses, Carbon fiber, Kevlar (Aramid) fiber, and Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene
(UHMWPE) fiber are used as reinforcement. The UHMWPE fiber or high modulus fiber
considered as third generation high-performance fiber [4-8] after Kevlar and carbon fiber.
Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers hold remarkable Physical
and Mechanical properties such as low weight density, high modulus, high stiffness and
strength [12], high cut and abrasion proof, good UV resistance, and non-chemical reactive [9].
Due to these exceptional properties the UHMWPE fiber reinforced composites are extensively
used in aerospace, automobile [10], and sports utilities industries [12]. Krishnudu et al. [13,
14] investigated on the mechanical properties of natural fiber hybrid composites and
mentioned its applicability based on their obtained strengths.
Ultra–high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) woven fabric reinforced
composite laminates or textile composites are more progressively used in defense industries
and marine construction. These woven fabric reinforced polymer (WFRP) composites would
be better replacement of conventional materials such as metals and ceramics. Predominantly
the Ultra–high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber/woven fabric composites
comprise highest strength to weight ratio, and outstanding features like environmental
resistance and long life.
In this paper, commercially available Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene
(UHMWPE) or high-performance polyethylene (HPPE) plain woven fabric of 200 gsm and
240 gsm areal densities are used as a reinforcement as it supplied, and epoxy resin (L-12) as a
matrix material. The UHMWPE woven fabric composites were produced by adopting hand
lay-up technique at room temperature. The failure behavior of mechanical properties like
Tensile strength, Flexural strength, and Impact strength were investigated and comparisons
made between two different areal density composites. The Scanning electron microscopy test
conducted for spotting the intimacy between fabric and matrix material.
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Mechanical Properties of UHMWPE Woven Fabric/Epoxy Composites
2. EXPERIMENTAL
2.2. Materials
Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) plain woven 2D fabric of 200 gsm
and 240 gsm areal densities are used as reinforcement material supplied by Huaheng High
Performance Fiber Textile Co. Ltd (China), the details of fabrics given in table 1. The
reinforcement is strengthened by epoxy resin (LAPOX L-12) of medium viscosity and a room
temperature curing polyamine hardener (K-6) both are supplied by ATUL Limited, Gujarat,
India. The properties of epoxy resin are given in table 2.
Table 1 Details of Fiber
Parameter
Table 2 Properties of Epoxy resin and Hardener
UHMWPE Fabric
Description
Areal density (gsm)
200
240
Weave
Plain
Plain
Fiber count (cm)
Yarn denier
Thickness (mm)
15.5X12
600D
0.42
10X9
Appearance
Density at 25 ºC
(g/cm3)
Viscosity
(mpa.s at 25ºC)
Typical values
Epoxy
Hardener
(L-12)
(K-6)
Pale
yellow
Clear viscous
liquid
liquid
1.1-1.2
0.95-1.1
9000-12000
5-15
180-190
-
1000D
0.48
Epoxy
Equi. Wt (g/eq)
2.2. Fabrication of composites
The Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) woven fabric/Epoxy laminates
were prepared in Hand lay-up technique, because Epoxy resin can be processed in hand layup for best results. The UHMWPE fabric/Epoxy composite laminates were made-up in three
different modules by varying number of layers of woven fabric from 1 to 3. The epoxy resin
and hardener were mixed in the ratio of 100:12 by weight. After 24 hours of curing at normal
temperature and pressure, the composite panels removed from mould. The laminate so
prepared has a size 160 mm X 160 mm X 3mm.
2.3. Mechanical Testing
2.3.1. Tensile Test
According to ASTM International standard ASTMD 3039-76 [12] tensile test specimens
prepared from the cured UHMWPE fabric/Epoxy laminates. The tensile tests were conducted
on INSTRON 3369 Universal testing machine at constant cross head speed of 10mm/min.
The Tensile tests were conducted on three specimens each of different fabric layer composites
and the average values were considered
2.3.2. Flexural Test
The three-point bending flexural tests were conducted to determine the flexural strength of the
composites. The test specimens were prepared according to ASTM International standard
ASTMD 5943-96 [12]. On INSTRON 3369 Universal Testing Machine specimens were
tested at a constant cross head speed of 1mm/min. The flexural tests were conducted on three
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P.RajendraPrasad, J.N.Prakash and L.H.Manjunath
specimens each of UHMWPE fabric/Epoxy composite laminate and an average values ware
considered.
2.3.3. Impact Test
Impact test specimens were prepared as per ASTM International standard ASTMD 256-88
[12]. The strength of the composite was recorded on Impact tester supplied by M/s PSI sales
(P) Ltd., New Delhi. In each case three samples are tested and the average value is recorded.
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
3.1. Tensile properties
The UHMWPE fabric/Epoxy composite laminate tensile test specimens of 200gsm and
240gsm with 1, 2, and 3-layer fabric reinforcement were performed. Table 3 shows the
results maximum tensile load and maximum tensile strength of 200gsm and 240gsm of 1, 2,
and 3-layer composite laminates. 11% and 34% of tensile strength were increased in 240 gsm
of 1-layer and 3-layer composite laminates, but there is no such drastic increase observed in
240 gsm 2-layer composite laminate over 200 gsm 2-layer composite laminate, because
tensile strength in 240 gsm 2-layer composite laminate nearly equal to 200 gsm 2-layer
composite laminate. The tensile stress-strain curves were collected using Instron 3369
Universal testing machine, to assist the research analysis the data converted into stress-strain
curves. Figure 1 to 3 shows the stress-strain curves of two different areal densities 1, 2, 3layer composite laminates.
3.2. Flexural properties
The Flexural rest results are shown in Table 4, the flexural strength of the plain woven
UHMWPE fabric/epoxy composite laminates of 200 gsm and 240 gsm. The three-point
bending flexural testing were carried out for all the specimens of 1, 2, 3-layer composite
laminates of two different areal density composite laminates. The 1-layer and 2-layer
composite laminates of 240 gsm shows better flexural strength by 26% and 56% over 200
gsm composite laminates. But the single layer 240 gsm composite laminate shows increment
of 24% as compared to 200 gsm composite laminate. The flexural strength results of 200 gsm
and 240 gsm were plotted and compared, clearly shown in figure 4.
180
Flexural strength (MPa)
160
200 gsm
140
200 gsm
240 gsm
120
240 gsm
140
120
100
80
60
40
Impact Strength (KJ/m2)
200
100
80
60
40
20
20
0
0
1-layer
1-layer
2-layers
3-layers
Number of layers
Figure 4 Flexural strength of composite
laminates
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2-layers
3-layers
Number of layers
Figure 5 Impact strength of composite laminates
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3.3. Impact strength
The variation of Impact strength of different layer woven fabrics of areal densities 200 gsm
and 240 gsm are shown in figure 5. The clear progressive enhancement of Impact strengths in
both 1, 2, 3-layer 200 gsm and 240 gsm areal density fabrics reinforced composites from the
results shown in Table 4. Comparisons made between 200 gsm and 240 gsm composite
laminates, the 1-layer, 2-layer, and 3-layer fabric reinforced 240 gsm composites Impact
strength 50%, 54%, and 53% more than 200 gsm areal density woven fabric composite
laminates.
Table 3 Tensile properties
200 gsm_1-layer
Specimen label
200 gsm 1-layer
200 gsm 2-layer
200 gsm 3-layer
240 gsm 1-layer
240 gsm 2-layer
240 gsm 3-layer
Maximum
Tensile
load
(N)
1452.43
1925.56
2542.05
1600.77
1929.2
3397.94
Maximum
Tensile
Strength
(MPa)
48.41
64.21
84.74
53.36
64.31
113.26
Tensile stress (MPa)
60
240 gsm_1-layer
50
40
30
20
10
0
0
0.02
0.04
Tensile strain (mm/mm)
0.06
Figure 1 Stress-Strain curve of 1-layer composite
200gsm_2-layer
70
240gsm_2-layer
240gsm_3-layer
100
Tensile stress (Mpa)
Tensile stress (MPa)
60
200gsm_3-layer
120
50
40
30
20
10
0
80
60
40
20
0
0
0.02
0.04
Tensile strain (mm/mm)
0.06
0.08
Figure 2 Stress-Strain curve of 2-layer composite
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0
0.05
0.1
Tensile strain (mm/mm)
0.15
Figure 3 Stress-Strain curve of 3-layer composite
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P.RajendraPrasad, J.N.Prakash and L.H.Manjunath
Table 4 Flexural and Impact test results
Specimen label
200 gsm 1-layer
200 gsm 2-layer
200 gsm 3-layer
240 gsm 1-layer
240 gsm 2-layer
240 gsm 3-layer
Max. Load
(KN)
0.14
0.16
0.27
0.2
0.22
0.33
Flexural test
Maximum Flex. Modulus
Stress (MPa)
(MPa)
79.6
8497.29
79.6
8497..29
148.16
9005.35
100.2
6821.32
123.94
7229.91
184.36
7961.49
Impact test
Impact
Impact
Energy(J) Strength(KJ/m2)
2
51.28
2.6
66.66
3.4
87.18
3
76.92
4
102.56
5.2
133.33
4. SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
The Scanning electron microscopy images of plain woven 200 gsm and 240 gsm areal density
UHMWPE fabric/ Epoxy resin composite laminates reveals the bonding between the epoxy
resin and the ultra high-molecular weight polyethylene fabric reinforced epoxy composites.
Figures 6 to 8 SEM images of composite laminates show clearly the effective bonding
between epoxy resin and plain woven fabric along weft and warp. The SEM image figure 7
clearly shows the even distribution of epoxy resin over the plain woven UHMWPE fabric.
Figure 6 fabric weft and warp in composite laminate
Figure 7 epoxy resin distribution over UHMWPE fabric
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Figure 8 Intimacy between matrix and reinforcement
5. CONCLUSIONS
The following conclusions can be drawn from this study.
•
There is a gradual increase in Tensile strength by increasing fabric layers of 200 gsm and 240
gsm areal densities in UHMWPE woven fabric/Epoxy composite laminates. The UHMWPE
plain woven fabric of 240 gsm areal density 3-layer composite laminate accepted maximum
tensile load of 3.4 KN and 113.26 MPa maximum tensile strength produced. From the results
assessment between the two areal densities of woven fabric reinforced composite laminates
was made, 1, 2, 3-layer composite laminates of 240 gsm execute better load bearing capacity
and Tensile strengths. So for greater loads the 240 gsm woven fabric composite laminate is
comfortable as compared to 200 gsm woven fabric composite laminates.
•
The progressive increment of flexural strength in both 200 gsm and 240 gsm areal densities
UHMWPE plain woven fabric reinforced polymer matrix composites were noticed. The
maximum Flexural strength of 184.36 MPa at maximum load 0.33 KN produced in 3-layer
240 gsm composite laminate. From the results reason behind variation of strengths between
1-layer 200 gsm and 240 gsm, 2-layer 200 gsm and 240 gsm, and 3-layer 200 gsm and 240
gsm is the intimacy between reinforcement of fabric and matrix material epoxy resin. 240
gsm fabric has greater potential to hold matrix material due to surface roughness of fabric and
the gaps between weft and warp fibers.
•
Similar to Tensile and Flexural test results the Impact strength of 240 gsm fabric is more than
200 gsm fabric. The maximum Impact strength of 133.33 KJ/m2 produced in 3-layer 240 gsm
composite laminate.
•
Scanning electron microscopy reveals remarkable bonding between fiber and epoxy resin in
both 200 gsm and 240 gsm composite laminates. Exceptionally epoxy resin distribution over
240 gsm composite laminates is more and made it to produce better mechanical properties.
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