Desenvolvimento e caracterização mecânica e dinâmico-mecânica de compósitos poliméricos híbridos (vidro/ramie) moldados por transferência de resina

Abstract

The use of ramie fibers as reinforcement in polymer composites is justified considering their satisfactory mechanical properties in comparison with other natural fibers, and their hybridization with synthetic fibers can improve the final properties of the composites. This study aims to produce resin transfer molded hybrid composites using glass and ramie fibers and to characterize them by using flexural, impact and interlaminar shear tests, and also density, water absorption and dynamic mechanical (DMA) analyses. The following parameters were varied: fiber length (25, 35, 45 and 55 mm), total fiber content (10, 21 and 31% vol.) and volumetric ratio between glass and ramie fibers (75:25 / 50:50 / 25:75 / 0:100). The 45 mm length was chosen due to generally higher physical and mechanical properties. In composites with 21%vol. of fibers, flexural strength, elastic modulus and elongation presented an increase, which was observed also in the impact and interlaminar shear strength for higher glass fiber content. The DMA of the composites showed similar C coefficient values, indicating good matrix-fiber stress transfer at high temperatures. The height of the tan delta peak increased with glass volume fraction, even though the opposite was expected (as a result of a higher interfacial adhesion). Regarding to the influence of the total fiber content, the composites with 10%vol. of reinforcement showed low flexural strength, but, all strength values were higher than that of the resin for 21%vol., increasing further for the 31%vol. of reinforcement. The DMA confirms the mechanical testing results, in which the smallest C coefficient, i.e. maximum fiber-matrix stress-transfer, was found for the highest reinforcement content, which also corresponds to the lowest tan delta peak height (better fiber-matrix interaction). The adhesion factor A was calculated and showed higher adhesion for higher glass fiber content at low temperatures, whereas, at high temperatures, this behavior reversed.