Mechanical and Damping Properties of Glass Fiber and Mica-Reinforced Epoxy Composites

Abstract

Mica/glass fiber-reinforced epoxy with 0° and 45° ply angle were prepared by hand lay-up and the mechanical and damping properties were studied. Results show that the addition of mica resulted in decrease of tensile strength and modulus for both composites. Althogh flexural strength and modulus of composites with 45° appeared a maximum at 5 phr mica loading, that of composites with 0° reached a maximum at 10 phr mica loading. For composites with 0°, damping ratio reaches maximum at 5 phr mica. Although for composites with 45°, damping ratio decrease with increasing mica loading.

Keywords:

• Damping properties
• Epoxy
• Glass fiber
• Mechanical properties
• Mica

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support of the self-determined and innovative research funds of WUT (Grant No. 2010-IV-058).