The effect of nanoclay particles on the incubation period in solid particle erosion of glass fibre/epoxy nanocomposites
Bagci, Mehmet and Demirci, Musa and Sukur, Emine Feyza and Kaybal, Halil
Burak
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Abstract
During erosion tests of glass fibre/epoxy nanocomposites, an incubation
period emerged because of the embedding of abrasive particles into the
target material. In this study, the effect of this period on solid
particle erosion behaviour was investigated for glass fibre/epoxy
composites with the addition of nanoclay. The surface erosion
characteristics of the composites were obtained by solid particle
erosion tests using angular alumina particles with a size on the order
of 400 mu m as the erodennt. The tests were conducted using impact
velocities of similar to 23 or similar to 34 m/s and impingement angles
of 30 degrees, 60 degrees or 90 degrees as operating conditions. The
eroded surfaces were examined using a scanning electron microscope to
characterise the incubation mechanisms taking place in the
nanocomposites. The glass fibre/epoxy composite without nanoclay (the
pure test specimen) had the highest erosion resistance when compared to
the composites with a nanoclay additive in ratios between 1\% and 3\% by
weight. The findings of this study indicate that the agglomeration and
weak compatibility of nanoclay, glass fibre and epoxy affected the
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