Fabrication, interfacial and flexural properties of a polymer composite reinforced by γ-Al2O3/Al fibres
Hao Tang, Aleksey B. Rogov, Constantinos Soutis, Aleksey Yerokhin
Abstract
Metal reinforcements in polymer matrix composites (PMC) provide enhanced architectural freedom and functional capabilities at low cost, but a weak interfacial bonding limits their applications. We utilised Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO) to deliver 2D Al2O3/Al woven cores used as PMC reinforcements. Alumina coatings reduced fibre tensile strength and modulus but significantly enhanced the epoxy-fibre interfacial strength from ∼ 12 MPa to ∼ 33 MPa, changing the failure mode of the composite from interfacial debonding to rupture due to the enhanced resistance of the epoxy-Al2O3 interface. The optimised bonding of hybrid Al2O3/Al fibre reinforcements s increased composites’ specific flexural modulus (Ef /ρ) by ∼ 58%. The study demonstrated the utility of PEO-based approach in the preparation of hybrid reinforcements to polymer matrix composites with enhanced mechanical behaviour.