Mechanical properties of graphene nanoplatelets reinforced glass/epoxy composites manufactured using resin film infusion process

Nanofillers as secondary reinforcement in polymeric composites have shown promising results on improvement of mechanical properties of the polymeric composites. However, due to the in-plane resin path, filtration of the nanofillers through fabric during processing is a major challenge in liquid infusion processes such as resin transfer molding. In resin film infusion process, the resin travels in thickness direction and due the shorter resin path, the possibility of filtration is minimal. In this study, resin film infusion (RFI) process is used to fabricate graphene platelets reinforced glass/epoxy hybrid composites. First, the resin films with 0.4 and 0.8 percent of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) were manufactured using solvent casting process. Then, these films were used to fabricate composites using resin film infusion process. Mechanical characterization tests, namely tensile, flexural and short beam, were performed. Tensile strength of the 0.4% and 0.8% GNPs reinforced composites was 36.13% and 22.23% higher, respectively, than that of baseline composites. Flexural strength 0.4% and 0.8% GNPs modified composites was 24.96% higher and 32% lower, respectively, compared to baseline composite. Lastly, minimal change was observed in short beam shear strength due to GNPs reinforcement. Higher void volume fraction of 1.7% and 4.5% as compared to baseline composites observed in 0.4% and 0.8% GNPs modified composites respectively.