Synergistic Influence of Surface Sanding Technique and Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube Incorporation on the Mode I Fracture Behavior of Glass Composite Laminates

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that combining surface sanding with multi-walled carbon nanotube reinforcement significantly enhances the fracture energy and load capacity of glass composite laminates, shifting failure modes and improving overall joint performance.

Contribution

It introduces a synergistic approach combining surface sanding and MWCNT incorporation to improve fracture behavior in adhesive joints, a novel integration of mechanical and nanomaterial treatments.

Findings

55% increase in fracture energy with sanding

Up to 92% increase in maximum load with reinforcement

Shift from adhesive to cohesive failure mode

Abstract

This study sequentially investigates the enhancement of fracture behavior in adhesive joints. Initially, mechanical sanding techniques were explored, revealing significant improvements of 55% in fracture energy and 38% in load-bearing capacity with optimal 240-grit sanding. Subsequently, in a second stage, Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) were introduced at varying weight percentages (0.1%, 0.3%, and 0.5% by weight) into the adhesive joints. This combined approach aimed to synergistically examine the impact of surface pretreatments and nanoparticle integration on fracture behavior. Results highlight the potential for fracture resistance and enhanced load-carrying capabilities in reinforced specimens, with maximum load and fracture energy improvements of up to 92 % and 50 %, respectively, compared to unreinforced specimens and those subjected solely to sanding treatments. Furthermore, the fracture mode shifted from adhesive failure to cohesive substrate failure in reinforced specimens. This comprehensive investigation underscores the intricate interplay between mechanical preparation and nanomaterial incorporation in significantly improving adhesive joint performance