Paper number 205

INTERLAMINAR REINFORCEMENT TO COMPOSITE LAMINATES BY DISTRIBUTING WHISKERS ALONG THE INTERFACE

Wen-Xue Wang¹, Yoshihiro Takao¹, Terutake Matsubara¹ and Hyoung Soo Kim²

1Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-Koen,
Kasuga, Fukuoka 816-8580, Japan
2Graduate School, Kyushu University, 6-10-1, Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka
812-8581, Japan

Summary

In the present study, an attempt is made to improve the interlaminar fracture toughness of composite laminates by distributing whiskers along the interface of composite laminates. A commercially available T800H/3631 CFRP prepreg and ?-SiC whisker are employed. A simple spray method is developed to distribute whiskers on the prepreg. An unidirectional laminate of 24 plies with a whisker reinforced interlayer is made for conventional DCB (double cantilever beam) testing. The DCB testing is conducted to investigate the effects of the whisker on the Mode I fracture toughness. Microscopic analysis of the cross-section and fracture surface of specimens is performed by the SEM (scanning electron microscope) and EPMA (electron probe micro-analyzer) to investigate the distribution of whiskers and effects of whiskers on the fracture toughness.

Keywords

SiC Whisker, composite laminates, whisker reinforced interface, microscopic analysis, DCB testing, Mode I interlaminar fracture toughness.