DYNAMIC MECHANICAL BEHAVIOUR OF GFRP COMPOSITES WITH SiO₂ NANO PARTICLES REINFORCED EPOXY MATRIX

Dynamic mechanic (DMA) tests were performed to compare the mechanical behaviour of glass fibre reinforced epoxy laminate composites with SiO2 nanoparticle reinforced matrix. The selection of the most promising nanoparticle concentrations was considered in terms of elastic modulus and glass transition temperature. The reference specimens (0% nanoparticles) did not contain diluent accordingly the results do not allow the exact comparison with unreinforced composite, nevertheless the ranking of the nanocomposites was made. In terms of stiffness requirements 20% nanoparticles composites offer the best behaviour, 25% higher elastic modulus than 5% nanoparticles. For nano composites the glass transition temperature TG is the highest: 80°C, 77°C for 3%, 5% nanoparticles respectively and the lowest 75°C, 72°C , 71°C for 15%, 10% and 20% nanoparticles is respectively .