Effect of cure kinetics and nanomaterials on glass fiber/vinyl ester composites: An assessment on mechanical, thermal and fracture morphology

In this article, optimization of post-cure temperature for glass fiber/vinyl ester (GVE) composite at 80 degrees C, 110 degrees C and 140 degrees C for 6 hr, laminate fabricated by hand layup method was studied. Also, mechanical strength and glass transition temperature (Tg) of GVE composites reinforced with 0.1 wt% of various nanofillers such as carboxyl functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube (CNT-COOH), nanoclay (surface-modified), nano alumina (Al2O3) and nano silica (SiO2) by solution processing method were investigated. Optimum properties for GVE composite were obtained at 140 degrees C post-cure temperature. With the addition of nanomaterials, flexural properties were improved for all the materials at specified parameters, whereas significant improvement acquired in the case of nanoclay GVE composite with a optimum flexural strength of 381.16 MPa and Tg of 102 degrees C was obtained. Post failure analysis of the tested samples was studied using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) at room temperature. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.