Multi-Fillers GFRP Laminated Composite Plates: Fabrication & Properties

It is a common practice to enhance the strength of composites; the constituent materials (fiber/matrix) are altered. The addition of filler materials such as graphene can fulfil the need. However, the cost of graphene limits its use as a common filler material. In this regard, some other substitutes of filler or scheme of material preparation needs to be explored. In this work, bi-directional woven E-glass fabric epoxy composite laminated plates (LCPs) are fabricated using the hand layup technique. Graphene and flyash is used as filler. Ten types of LCPs are fabricated by altering the fillers at the designated fabric layer. Various thermal, mechanical, and physical tests are conducted. It is observed, the interfacial chemical bonding, load transfer between fiber and matrix and surface quality is affected due to the presence of fillers. LCPs with graphene have superior physical and mechanical properties than the LCPs of flyash filler. However, adding graphene in targeted layers without adding to whole LCP or functionally-grading through layers can also enhance the strength of LCPs, e.g., graphene when added in outer layers of LCP makes hydrophobic, hard and thermally stable along with increasing tensile and flexural strengths.