Toughening Behavior of Carbon/Epoxy Laminates Interleaved by PSF/PVDF Composite Nanofibers
H. Saghafi, Roberto Palazzetti, Hossein Heidary, Tommaso Maria Brugo, Andrea Zucchelli, Giangiacomo Minak
Abstract
This paper presents an investigation on fracture behavior of carbon/epoxy composite laminates interleaved with electrospun nanofibers. Three different mats were manufactured and interleaved, using only polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), only polysulfone (PSF), and their combination. Mode-I and Mode-II fracture mechanics tests were conducted on virgin and nanomodified samples, and the results showed that PVDF and PSF nanofibers enhance the Mode-I critical energy release rate (GIC) by 66% and 51%, respectively, while using a combination of the two registered a 78% increment. The same phenomenon occurred under Mode-II loading. SEM micrographs were taken, to investigate the toughening mechanisms provided by the nanofibers.