MECHANICAL INVESTIGATION OF CRYO-TREATED SILANIZED GRAPHENE OXIDE MODIFIED CARBON FIBER REINFORCED POLYMER COMPOSITE

Abstract

The Space industry is still in search for a suitable material for cryogenic tanks. Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic composites is identified as a compatible material for cryogenic applications. Various researches are being conducted using many modifiers and additives to study its effect on different properties of CFRP composites. Silane Graphene Oxide is being coated on the carbon fiber using Electrophoretic Deposition method. Composite panels of epoxy and the Silane Graphene Oxide coated carbon fibers are fabricated by Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding technique (VARTM). The samples required for determining tensile strength, flexural strength and impact strength were cut out according to the ASTM standards. The 1g/L SGO modified CFRP samples at room temperature have shown an enhancement in tensile strength, and impact energy by 13.16 % and 14.03% respectively. While the 1.5g/L SGO-modified CFRP showcased an increment in the flexural strength by 24.18% at room conditions. To study the improvement in the cryo-treated SGO modified CFRP the tests are conducted after dipping the samples in liquid nitrogen for 20 minutes. The results obtained after the tests showed an improvement in the corresponding properties. The tensile strength, impact energy and flexural strength of cryo-treated 1g/L SGO- modified CFRP portrayed an increase by 15.17%, 17.59% and 35.29% respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis and Differential Scanning Calorimetry tests were also conducted to study about the thermal stability and specific heat capacity range of modified samples. From the inference obtained from the thermal analysis and mechanical tests 1g/L SGO-modified CFRP has the better performing composition