Nanoclay and Temperature Effects on Carbon/Fiberglass Composite Laminates under Impact Loading

In the current study the experimental investigations of hybrid carbon/fiberglass composite laminates subjected to impact loading at room and elevated temperatures were carried out to determine the effect of nanoclay addition into the epoxy resin. Hybrid laminates were fabricated with plain weave carbon fabric and plain weave E-glass fabric using hand layup method. The epoxy matrix with 0%, 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1.25% of nanoclay reinforcement by weight was produced using an ultrasonic mixer. The laminates were then subjected to low-velocity impact tests with energies between 20 and 45 J. The penetration and perforation thresholds of hybrid composites with and without nanoclay were obtained by using energy profile diagram, force-displacement and energy-time curves. Experimental results show that the impact performance of carbon/fiberglass composite laminates was changed with the nanoclay addition. Impact performance of these composites was also affected by the considered range of temperatures.