Abstract:

The current investigation aims at enhancing the buckling characteristics of basalt fiber reinforced composites by incorporating nano clay (NC) particles into the epoxy matrix system. Basalt fiber reinforced epoxy composite laminate samples containing different NC concentrations (0.0%, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 3.0) by weight have been manufactured by vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding method and subjected to axial and lateral compression loadings to determine the effects of NC particles on buckling properties. Also, the influences of the NC particles on the material structure were examined by the analysis with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs of the buckled samples. The fiber volume fraction of basalt reinforcement was found to be 43 ± 1.0% in composite plates produced with basalt fiber woven fabrics. The results demonstrate that introduction of NC particles has significant effects on both the axial and lateral buckling behaviors. Compared to samples without NC particles, the highest improvements obtained for the axial and lateral critical buckling loads were 48.1% and 39.56%, respectively, from the sample having 1% NC particle inclusion. Further increasing amount of NC particle content (above 1 wt.%) have exhibited reductions in critical buckling loads with the increasing NC particle amount. This can be explained by the poor interfacial bonding as a result of the agglomerations and exfoliation of nanoparticles at epoxy/basalt fiber interfaces in certain areas. According to obtained results, the application of NC particle inclusion has proved to be compatible with the structure of the basalt fiber reinforced epoxy composites and they might be used together for the applications requiring high buckling resistance.

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