| Summary: | The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of addition of clay on the
tensile strength, bending strength and bending modulus of elasticity, impact
strength and fracture toughness of hybrid composites epoxy/clay/glass fiber.
This study used epoxy for matrix material, clay and glass fibers woven
roving types as reinforcement and polyaminoamide as catalist. Handy lay-up
method was used for sample preparation. At first the clay was heated at 80 ° C for
1 hour at the oven is done to reduce the water content of clay. Epoxy mixed with
clay variations of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 wt%. Mixed using a mechanical Stirrer for
120 minutes with a round of 800 rpm at 80°C. The mixtures were cooled for 10
minutes,then put in a vacuum tube for 5 minutes, After that a mixture of clay and
epoxy hardener is added again stirred for 5 minutes, then vacuum in the vacuum
tube for 3 minutes. Then the matrix is poured into the glass mold, then
compressed a glass fiber sheet with roll steel and poured another matrix, the
process is repeated up to 4 sheets of glass fiber and then on the roll to a thickness
of 3.2 mm.The process then allowed to stand for 24 hours at room temperature,
put in heating for 2 hours at a temperature of 125oC and then the specimen was
cut with a scroll saw machine into tensile test specimens, bending, impact and
fracture toughness.
The results show that the addition of clay 1wt% increase mechanical
properties, but the addition of clay is more than 1wt% lower tensile strength,
bending strength , bending modulus of elasticity and impact strength of hybrid
composites of epoxy / clay / glass fiber. Tensile test and bending test and impact
test showed that the optimum clay fraction occurs in 1% to increase the tensile
strength of 11.52%, 23.52% increase in bending strength and bending modulus of
elasticity increase of 7.1%,increase the impact strength of 30.16%. The highest
fracture toughness of the composite hybrid epoxy / clay / glass fiber is achieved at
2% clay weight fraction, the fracture toughness increases by 19.09%, but the
addition of more than 2% clay weight fraction lower fracture toughness strength.
|
|---|