Cellulose Nanocrystals as reinforcement in glass fiber/epoxy sheet molding compound composites Conference Paper uri icon

abstract

  • Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) are ideal candidates for reinforcement in polymers and polymer matrix composites due to their high specific modulus, and strength characteristics. In this study CNC are added as a filler in the epoxy resin and a sheet molding compound (SMC) manufacturing line is used to make glass fiber/CNC-epoxy composites. Freeze-dried CNC were first dispersed in the hardener via sonication, then the hardener-CNC suspension was mixed with the monomer to produce the resin for the SMC production. The tensile and flexural properties, the impact strength and the thermo-mechanical properties of the GF/CNCepoxy composites are determined as a function of the CNC content. The content GF content in the composites is determined using thermogravimetric analysis. In conclusion, it is found that there is an optimum CNC content for which there is enhancement of the mechanical properties of the SMC composites.

published proceedings

  • Annual Technical Conference - ANTEC, Conference Proceedings

author list (cited authors)

  • Asadi, A., Miller, M., Moon, R. J., & Kalaitzidou, K.

complete list of authors

  • Asadi, A||Miller, M||Moon, RJ||Kalaitzidou, K

publication date

  • January 2016