Efeito da fluoração superficial de fibras de aramida em compósitos à base de resina éster-vinílica com foco em comportamento de impacto

Abstract

The use of composite materials enables the improvement of the materials mechanical properties associated with lower densities favoring protection of personnel, military vehicles and aircrafts. The advantages of polyaramid are the improvement of the mechanical and physical properties, and a high degree of hardness and ballistic performance. However, the aramid fibers have an inert and smooth chemical surface, which hinders interaction with the thermosetting resins, resulting in a weak interfacial adhesion between fibers and matrix. Thus, the aim of this study is to perform surface treatment of aramid in order to improve surface reactivity of the fibers to improve interfacial adhesion between fibers and matrix. Aramid Kevlar® and vinyl-ester composites were molded by compression molding, and the fibers surface treatment occurred by the deposition of ~ 2,5% of fluorine (in mass) (qualitative data). The treated fibers composite showed lower voids content (0,33 ± 0,36%) in relation to the untreated fibers composite (4,67 ± 1,14%). Furthermore, inferior results of tensile strength, impact strength, damping factor and adhesion factor were obtained for the treated fibers composite, along with superior results for modulus of elasticity, glass transition temperature, storage modulus and loss modulus. For the Hopkinson Bar test, it was observed that the aramid composites became weaker as the deformation rate was increased, which decreased energy absorption with the increased deformation. It was concluded that the treated fiber composite showed a higher adhesion between fibers and matrix, resulting in lower voids content, higher stiffness, energy dissipation, lower chain segment movement and higher glass transition temperature. However, the treatment of the fibers made the composite more fragile, resulting in the decrease of the properties of resistance to ballistic impact in relation to the composites of untreated fibers.