Low Velocity Impact Behaviour of Composite Laminates Containing TiC and ZrC Nanoparticles in Resin System

Abstract

Composite structures utilized in defence and aerospace applications might be subjected to impacts due to bird strike, tool dropping and bullet penetration. One of the approaches to this problem is to add nano tubes and nano particles to resin systems in order to improve bonding between fibres and matrix materials. Different nano-particles or nano-tubes of clays, alumina, silica, carbon and graphene have been analysed in composite systems in the literature so far because of the improved mechanical properties. In this study, the low velocity impact behaviour of the aramid fibre reinforced epoxy composite plates, containing two new nano-particles of TiC and ZrC which are not studied formerly, are searched experimentally. After the low velocity impact tests, it is concluded that plates containing titanium carbide nano-particles and zirconium nano-particles yielded 19 % and 4 % respectively less penetration in comparison with particle free plates. In other words, titanium carbide nano-particles contained plates showed more resistance against the impact by 19 % against to particle free plates. These results showed that TiC and ZrC nano particles might be also good contributors for the impact resistance of composite structure.