Publications

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Authors: G. Scarselli, D. Quan, V. Prasad, P.S. Rao, M. Hardiman, I. Reid, N.P. O'Dowd, N. Murphy, A. Ivankovic

Abstract: In the present paper, the (opens in a new window)mode I fracture toughness properties of a (opens in a new window)thermoplastic composite resin reinforced with glass fibres are experimentally evaluated. The (opens in a new window)neat resin is initially characterized in terms of static and mode I (opens in a new window)fracture toughness properties. Then three sets of panels are manufactured and tested: reference panels made of untreated glass fibres and the (opens in a new window)thermoplastic resin; UV treated glass fibres reinforced (opens in a new window)thermoplastic panels and plasma treated glass fibres reinforced thermoplastic panels. The effect of the treatment on the (opens in a new window)interfacial adhesion (opens in a new window)strength between fibres and matrix is characterized by a push-out test. An overall increase of the interfacial (opens in a new window)strength leads to an overall decrease of the composite (opens in a new window)mode I fracture toughness evaluated by Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) tests. Optical and Scanning Electron Microscopy images of the (opens in a new window)fracture surfaces are acquired and used to obtain a better interpretation of the (opens in a new window)fracture mechanisms.