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Materials Today: Proceedings 3 (2016) 1056 – 1059
DAS 2015
Composite materials based on pa reinforced glass fibers
Lenka Markovičová*,Viera Zatkalíková
University of Žilina, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Materials Engineerig, Univerzitná 8215/1, 010 26 Žilina, Slovakia
Abstract
The present article deals with monitoring the changes in the mechanical properties of composites with polymer matrix. The
composite was formed from the PA matrix and glass fibers. The composite contains 30 % glass fibers. The mechanical
properties, tensile strength and flexural strength were evaluated on samples of the composite before and after UV radiation on the
sample. The largest decline endpoints were recorded in 500 hours of UV exposure. Light microscopy was evaluated distribution
of glass fibers in the polymer matrix and the presence of cracks caused by UV radiation.
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Selection
Selectionand
andPeer-review
Peer-review under responsibility
under of the
responsibility ofCommittee Members
the Committee of 32nd
Members ofDANUBIA ADRIAADRIA
32nd DANUBIA SYMPOSIUM on
SYMPOSIUM on
Advanced
AdvancedininExperimental
Experimental Mechanics
Mechanics (DAS
(DAS2015)
2015).
Keywords: Composite materials; polymeric matrix; glass fibers; polyamide;
1. Introduction
The construction material is a normally solid, intended for further processing in the production equipment. They
are used for the production of machinery, structures, equipment, tools and various utility items for engineering,
construction, medical but also artistic and other purposes. Material properties together with production technology
determine the characteristics of the product and therefore it is important to know not only the range of construction
materials, as well as their properties and fitness for design intent [1]. Most of the material falls into one of three
main groups and the metallic, ceramic and polymeric materials. Moreover, different materials can be combined and
* Corresponding author: Lenka Markovičová Tel.: +421 041/513 2610; fax: +421 041/513 5055.
E-mail address: [email protected]
2214-7853 © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Selection and Peer-review under responsibility of the Committee Members of 32nd DANUBIA ADRIA SYMPOSIUM on
Advanced in Experimental Mechanics (DAS 2015)
doi:10.1016/j.matpr.2016.03.047
Lenka Markovičová and Viera Zatkalíková / Materials Today: Proceedings 3 (2016) 1056 – 1059 1057
then create a new - a composite material. Within each of these classes of materials are often further grouped
according to their chemical composition and certain physical and mechanical properties [2-4].
Polymeric materials are perhaps the most sensitive to material changes in the chemical structure under external
influences, and the resulting physical and especially the mechanical and chemical properties. The most significant
factors that trigger the chain mechanism of chemical change in the polymeric material to UV light, heat, oxygen,
and the presence of particular of ozone. To accelerate chemical degradation processes typically it contributes the
mechanical stresses and the possible presence of chemicals, in particular organic solvents. Testing degradation of
polymeric materials, generally well-established, the term aging of polymers, is one of the most important tests for
estimating the life of the polymeric product. Ageing may be made either in real conditions of use of the polymer in a
particular application, or use artificial accelerated aging conditions. Accelerated aging methods provide significantly
faster test results than testing natural aging, because many times it is not possible to carry out tests of natural aging,
especially for reasons of time. Test methods of susceptibility testing of polymeric materials degradation (aging)
reflect the diversity of their application utilization, especially conditions in which the finished products will be used.
It must also be taken into account the susceptibility of different types of polymers to each initiation of degradation
mechanisms. Rubber products are generally more susceptible to degradation and thermooxidation the action of
ozone, plastics, in particular polyolefins, are susceptible to ultraviolet radiation. When choosing a method for testing
polymeric material to be considered application area of the finished product as well as the characteristics of the
polymer. It is utterly unrealistic to test the rubber seal under the heating element on the light stability, but it is
necessary first to know its resistance to thermal, respectively its thermooxidation action. Conversely, window
profiles, it is necessary to test the light stability and should be considered as relatively high temperatures during the
summer months. The components in the automotive industry have generally resist and ultraviolet radiation and high
temperatures [5, 6, 7].
2. Experimental methods and material
As experimental material was used composite formed polymer matrix (PA) and filler – glass fibres. Glass fibre
has a production label GF 672, fibre diameter is 10 μm and fibre length is 4 mm. The test composite contains 30%
glass fibre (lable PA+30GF). The test samples were evaluated by the selected mechanical parameters (tensile
strength and flexural strength) regarding the effects of UV radiation. Testing degradation of polymeric materials is
one of the most important tests to the lifetime of polymer product. Ageing tests can be either in real conditions of
use of the polymer in a particular application, or using artificial accelerated ageing conditions. Accelerated ageing
methods provide test results significantly faster natural aging tests. Testing is based on exposing test bars to man-
made climate. After a fixed interval of exposure changes are detected in end points (aesthetic, physical, electrical,
etc.). The apparatus for man-made weather ageing (Fig. 1) ensure continued maintaining of artificial climatic
conditions (day and night cycles, changing humidity, drought and wet, etc.)
Fig. 1 SolarBox 1500 E with flooding
A source of light radiation guarantees a radiant flux of radiation intensity 550 W m-2. The source of light is a xenon
arc lamp, but other sources of radiation are allowed too. The device must be equipped with a thermometer built into
the black panel, which senses the temperature of the black panel. The black panel temperature of exposure time was
selected at 65 °C, the liquid phase lasted for 102 minutes and the wet phase for 18 minutes. If it necessary wetting
by distilled or deionised water can be applied. The numbers of man-made climate factors that simultaneously affect
1058 Lenka Markovičová and Viera Zatkalíková / Materials Today: Proceedings 3 (2016) 1056 – 1059
the test bars is selected by the test program. Test runs continued for a period fixed in the testing program. The
duration of the test was 500, 750 and 1000 hours.
3. Results
The test samples were evaluated by the selected mechanical parameters (tensile strength and flexural strength)
regarding the effects of UV radiation. The same parameters were assessed after 3 runs (500, 750 and 1000 hours) of
UV radiation acting on the sample. The test also included evaluation of the structure and changes in the structure
before and after UV irradiation.
Samples for the structure test were embedded in Bakelite in the first step and then cut and polished. Grinding of
the samples was carried out using the device Struers Tegra Pol-15 under a program designed for polyamides. SiC
abrasive paper with grain size 500, 1 200 and 4 000 was used for grinding. Each sandpaper was used to grind the
sample for 1 minute. Grinding was followed by polishing using Mol plate for 3 minutes. This was followed by 2
minute polishing with Nap-B, and finally polishing was finalized using wet disc and Chem-OP-S (diamond slurry)
for 1 minute. The samples prepared in the above-mentioned way were evaluated for structure changes by light
microscope Neophot 32.
A tensile test and bend test was performed using the device WDW 20. The speed of a moving jaw was set at 1
mm.min-1 with. The sample was pinned to the jaw and force was exercised in the longitudinal axis until the sample
break. We measured the maximum force required to break the test samples. From the acquired data, we calculated
the tensile strength, σM. A bend test was performed with the aid of three-point bending. The test results are indicated
in Tab. 1.
Tab. 1. Mechanical properties of PA composite.
Tensile Flexural
30%GF strength strength
σM [MPa] σfM [MPa]
0 hrs. UV 131 1 150
500 hrs. UV 140 859
750 hrs. UV 144 729
1 000 hrs. UV 138 762
The experiment also included evaluation of the structure of the composite PA+30GF before and after UV
irradiation by a light microscope. We monitored homogeneity of the composite, the manner of distribution of glass
fibres in the polymer matrix, and cracking caused by UV radiation, (Fig. 2, Fig. 3).
Fig. 2. Distribution of glass fibres. Fig. 3. UV degradation of composite.
Lenka Markovičová and Viera Zatkalíková / Materials Today: Proceedings 3 (2016) 1056 – 1059 1059
4. Conclusions
UV light slightly increases the tensile strength at 500 and 750 hours of UV exposure, which was probably due to
partial cross-linking of the polymer matrix. After 1000 hours of exposure to UV radiation the tensile strength begins
to decrease.
Composite specimens PC+30GF showed a significant decrease in the values of the flexural strength after the
shortest-minimum period of UV irradiation (500 hours). The f flexural strength decreased by more than 50 %
compared to the flexural strength that was measured in samples without UV irradiation. Composites are becoming
significantly fragile. Changes in the flexural strength were considerably extensive after the longer periods (750 to
1000 hours) exposure to UV irradiation.
UV radiation is an intense degradation factors affecting the change in the structure of polymers. The polymer
matrix-fibre interface exhibits low adhesion, which is needed in the future to support the addition of the adhesive.
UV radiation created cracks in the composite, which is spread in the direction of the glass fibre in the polymer
matrix.
Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge the financial support of the European Union - Project ITMS 26110230117 and of the
Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic - Project 044ŽU – 4/2014, VEGA 1/0533/15 and the project
“Research Centre of University of Žilina”, ITMS 26220220183.
References
[1] C. Zweben, Composite Matrials and Mechanical Engineer`s Handbook, 2nd ed., Myer Kutz, Ed., John Willey & sons, Inc., New York, 1998.
[2] A.R. Bunsell, Fibre Reinforcements for Composite Materials, Elsevier, Oxford, 1998.
[3] L.L. Clements, Composite Radomes protect and Perform, High Performance Composite, September/October 2000, pp. 44-47.
[4] B.T. Aström, Manufacturing of Polymer Composites, Chapman & Hall, 1997.
[5] Handbook of Polymer Testing. Ed. Roger Brown, Marcel Dekker, New York 1999.
[6] Standards STN EN ISO 4892 plastics – Methods of Exposure to Laboratory Light Sources.
[7] B. Meissner, V. Zilvar. Physics of polymers. SNTL/ALFA, Praha 1987.
