Comparative Investigations on Fracture Toughness and Damping Response of Fabric Reinforced Epoxy Composites

Studies were conducted to observe the effect of fracture toughness and damping response on fabric reinforced epoxy polymer composites. The samples of glass fabric, kevlar fabric and carbon fabric having 15wt%, 25wt%, 35wt%, 45wt% and 55wt % fabric content were prepared and tested following ASTM standards. Fracture toughness, peak load and increase in energy absorption are determined for the fabric-epoxy composites. Effect of temperature on storage modulus, loss modulus and tan delta values for various percentages of fabric epoxy composites are noticed and corresponding damping response behaviour is determined. The results revealed that reduction in strength at higher percentage of fabric content is due to improper bonding between fabric and epoxy resin. Higher peak load values and increased values of energy absorption are observed at lower percentage of fabric content. Kevlar fabric proves to be beneficial for specific energy absorption capability. Strength retention capability at higher temperature is far better for carbon fabric epoxy combinations. Composites with lower fabric content retain much higher temperature and peak load. Also the experimental findings are in close proximity with that of theoretical results.