RESUMEN
The emergence of additive manufacturing technologies for fiber-reinforced thermoset composites has greatly bolstered their utilization, particularly within the aerospace industry. However, the ability to precisely measure the interface strength between the fiber and thermoset matrix in additively manufactured composites has been constrained by the cumbersome nature of single-fiber pull-out experiments and the need for costly instrumentation. This study aims to introduce a novel methodology for conducting single-fiber pull-out tests aimed at quantifying interface shear strength in additively manufactured thermoset composites. Our findings substantiate the viability of this approach, showcasing successful fiber embedding within composite test specimens and precise characterization of fiber pull-out strength using a conventional mechanical testing system. The test outcome revealed an average interfacial strength value of 2.4 MPa between carbon fiber and the thermoset epoxy matrix, aligning with similar studies in the existing literature. The outcome of this study offers an affordable and versatile test methodology to revolutionize composite material fabrication for superior mechanical performance.
RESUMEN
Enhancing the performance of adhesively joined composite components is crucial for various industrial applications. In this study, polyamide 66 (PA66) nanofibers produced by electrospinning were coated on unidirectional carbon/epoxy prepregs to increase the bond strength of the composites. Carbon/epoxy prepregs with/without PA66 nanofiber coating on the bonding region were fabricated using the autoclave, which is often used in the aerospace industry. The single lap shear Charpy impact energy and Mode-I fracture toughness tests were employed to examine the effects of PA66 nanofibers on the mechanical properties of the joint region. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to investigate the nanofiber morphology and fracture modes. The thermal characteristics of Polyamide 66 nanofibers were explored by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). We observed that the electrospun PA66 nanofiber coating on the prepreg surfaces substantially improves the joint strength. Results revealed that the single lap shear and Charpy impact strength values of the composite joint are increased by about 79 and 24%, respectively, by coating PA66 nanofibers onto the joining region. The results also showed that by coating PA66 nanofibers, the Mode-I fracture toughness value was improved by about 107% while the glass transition temperature remained constant.
