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Materials Today: Proceedings 5 (2018) 20250–20256 www.materialstoday.com/proceedings

ICMPC_2018

Tensile and Failure Behavior of Kevlar Fiber Reinforced Epoxy

Matrix Composite Exposed to Different Environmental Conditions
Asit Beheraa, Ranjan K. Beheraa, *, Pruthwiraj Sahua , R. R. Swaina, T. R. Mahapatrab
a
School of Mechanical Engineering,Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha-751024, India
b
Department of Production Engineering,Veer Surendra Sai University of TechnologyBurla, Sambalpur–768018, Odisha, India

Abstract

Synthetic fibers such as kevlar(aramid), glass, carbon etc. have been used for several years in many applications varying from
aerospace components to civil infrastructures because of their added advantages such as light in weight, high specific stiffness,
high specific strength, low density, good wear resistance. In this present work the effect of moisture on the mechanical properties
like tensile strength and the failure behavior of kevlar fiber reinforced composite was investigated. Moisture was introduced into
the specimen by immersion in three different type of solution such as marine water, 30% conc. H2SO4 and 30% conc.NaOH at
different intervals of exposure. The composite was made by bi-directional kevlar 49 fiber and epoxy resin by hand-lay-up
technique. The result showed that the absorbed moisture decreases the tensile strength and breaking strength of kevlar fiber
composite sample treated with marine water followed by NaOH and H2SO4.
© 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Selection and/or Peer-review under responsibility of Materials Processing and characterization.

Keywords:Kevlar fibre composite; environmental conditions; tensile and failure behaviour

1. Introduction

In recent years composites have received considerable attention as alternatives to steel and aluminum as structural
materials in construction, aircraft applications, aerospace industries etc. Due to its high strength to weight ratio, it is
more capable towards mechanical properties and ease of handling. As aramids have 5-10% higher mechanical
properties than other synthetic fibers, these are displacing metal wires and inorganic fibers from the market of high
performance uses like various structural composites for application in aircraft, marine and automobile, ropes for
offshore oil rigs and bullet proof vests. These fibers not only have better mechanical properties than steel and glass

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +91-9861444036

E-mail address: ranjancet@gmail.com

2214-7853© 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Selection and/or Peer-review under responsibility of Materials Processing and characterization.
 Ranjan K. Behera et al./ Materials Today: Proceedings 5 (2018) 20250–20256 20251

Nomenclature
(σt)max Maximum strength, MPa
(σt)break Breaking strength, MPa

fibers on an equal weight basis, but also maintain these properties at high temperatures as aramid polymers are
excellent heat and flame resistant.
Yang et al [1] calculated fracture and impact properties of fabricated Auuxetic- kevlar composite and its
properties compared with standard kevlar composites. Goud and Rao [2] investigated tensile, impact and flexural
properties of Roystonearegia natural fibre-epoxy composite after alkaline treatment. Sirui Fu et al [3]improved
mechanical properties of short kevlar fibre after it introduced in to olefin block polymers.Static and in-plane
compression test were carried out to find mechanical properties of thermoplastic composites reinforced with 2D
plain woven homogeneous and hybrid fabrics of Kevlar/basalt yarns[4]. Under ambient and different vacuums,
loads, sliding velocities and temperatures the dry sliding tribological properties of hybrid PTFE/Kevlar fabric
composite was investigated[5]. Bandaru et al [6] improved mechanical properties of kevlar by adding maleic
anhydride between polypropylene and kevlar. Lian et al [7]significantly improved the properties of kevlar with
functionalization of GNRs in polymer matrix. Roenbeck et al [8]developed a series of unique high performance
Kevlar fibers such as K119, K29, KM2þ, and K49 in a novel focused ion beam (FIB) notch technique. Destefanis et
al [9] used kevlar fiber along with its characterisation tests performance like impact test and high vacuum outgassing
tests. Reis et al [10] usedkevlar 292/ SR 1500 epoxy resin 12 layered laminate with and without addition of cork
powder composite, which static strength and fatigue strength reduced by the addition of cork powder. Woo and
Kim[11] studied high strain rate induced failure of carbon-kevlar hybrid composite using a novel SHPB-AE couple
test. The initial failure shows matrix fracture and then brittle carbon fiber breakage. Subsequently multiple fiber pull
out, fiber-matrix debonding, excessive deformation and breakage occurred. Ramadhan et al.[12]studied hhigh
velocity impact response of kevlar 29 fiber/epoxy/A/6061 composite laminated plates using a nitrogen gas gun. The
ballastic limit velocity and energy absorbed by the target can be find out.
The objective of this paper is to fabricate a kevlar fiber reinforced epoxy matrix composite (KFREMC) and after
fabrication it treatment with different environment conditions and finally the strengths of the specimens are
determined by tensile testing at regular intervals of time say 144hrs288 hrs respectively. The results are then
compared with the results of the specimens before immersion.

2. Material selection & Fabrication of KFREMC

The following materials are used to fabricate KFREMC;kevlar fiber mat, epoxy (Lapox L12), hardener (Lapox
K6), weighing machine, brush, mug, surgery gloves, silicon spray roller, scissor, pins and Teflon sheet. As per
ASTM D3039 standard the dimensions of the tensile test specimen should be as per requirement.Cut two pieces of
Teflon sheet as per required size, actually a bit larger than the required composite size which is about 300×300 mm²,
fix one Teflon sheet on a cardboard using pins which will act as an anti-adhesive agent, then cut the kevlar mat into
piece as per required, means decide how many layer kevlar fiber is to be used, orientation etc. Since this particular
specimen four layers has been used so here four layer of kevlar is cut into pieces in size of 300×300 mm². Measure
the weight of the kevlar mat which was cut into four layers already which weight about 40.74 grams.
Measure the mug by using weighing machine which is about twenty three grams, put epoxy into the mug
weighing at a ratio of two third of the weight of the kevlar fiber mat, which literally equals to something around
27.16 grams, add hardener weight 10% of weight of the epoxy which is equals to 2.72grams and stir the epoxy and
hardener solution by help of stirring rod to mix it gently so that there will be no bubbles at all in the solution. Now
spray the silicon spray to the Teflon sheet which is attached to the cardboard all over the sheet and apply the solution
to the sheet as per required dimension then place the kevlar fiber mat on the solution layer and apply the roll on the
fiber mat by using hand roller to avoid air gaps. Again coat the matrix solution as a layer on the kevlar mat.
20252 Ranjan K. Behera et al./ Materials Today: Proceedings 5 (2018) 20250–20256

Repeat the above step up to the number of required layer, which is four in this case. Take the second Teflon sheet
apply silicon spray to it on one side and stick the spray surface to the on the mat. Place some weight on it achieving
good bond between fiber and matrix. Leave it for 24hour to 48hour. After 24-48 hour the composite is obtained,
Now spray the silicon spray to the Teflon sheet which is attached to the cardboard all over the sheet and apply the
solution to the sheet as per required dimension then place the kevlar fiber mat on the solution layer and apply the
roll on the fiber mat by using hand roller to avoid air gaps. Again coat the matrix solution as a layer on the kevlar
mat. since the composite is obtained so unmount the load applied on the matrix and fiber then remove the Teflon
sheet from both end and cut the unwanted overflowed solution and the cut the sides to get the required specimen as
shown in Fig. 1.

Fig.1. (a) KFREMC is prepared by hand layout technique; (b) Prepared specimens as per ASTM D3039 for testing

3. Results and discussions

In this section, after successive fabrication of KFREMC is treatment under different environmental conditions
such as; (a) marine water treatment as shown in Fig. 2 (a), (b) H2SO4 treatment as shown in Fig. 2 (b) and (c) NaOH
treatment as shown in Fig. 2 (c) respectively.Fig. 3 (a) shows experimental setup by using Instron 3369 and Fig. 3
(b) and Fig. 3 (c) show tensile testsof specimen after different environmental treatments at regular interval of time
say 144 hrs and 288hrs respectively.

Fig.2. KFREMC under different environmental conditions (a) Marine water treatment; (b) H2SO4 treatment; (c) NaOH treatment
 Ranjan K. Behera et al./ Materials Today: Proceedings 5 (2018) 20250–20256 20253

3.1. Experimental results

Fig. 3 shows a sample specimen according to ASTM D3039 standard. Fig. 4 (a) shows experimental set up and
Fig. 4 (b) shows specimen under tensile stress. Table 1 shows all experimental resultsof two types of specimen
under different environmental conditions.

Fig.3. Dimension of a specimen as per ASTM D3039 for tensile testing

3.2. Compare load vs. displacement diagram ofspecimensunder different environmental conditions w.r.t. time

Fig. 5 shows load vs. displacement diagram of specimens under different environmental condition w.r.t time. In
Fig 5 (a) indicates specimen under marine water treatment up to 144hrs and 288 hrs respectively and compare with
no treatment specimen. It shows strength decreases under longer period of treatment. Same type of situation happens
in other two environmental conditions as shown in Fig. 5 (b) and Fig. 5 (c). But there is drastically change of
material properties of specimen under H2SO4 treatment.
Fig. 6 shows load vs. displacement diagram of specimen under different environmental condition at particular
period of time. After 144 hs treatment, the material properties decreases w.r.t no treatment specimen as shown in Fig
6 (a), but after 288 hrs treatment nature of curves are similar to nature of no treatment curve except H2SO4
treatment.So this material gives better performance at longer period of treatment.

Fig.4. (a) Experimental setupInstron3369 ;(b)& (c) Specimen under tensile test
20254 Ranjan K. Behera et al./ Materials Today: Proceedings 5 (2018) 20250–20256

Table 1.Experimental results

No treatment Marine water treatment H2SO4 treatment NaOH treatment

Strength (MPa) /
(σt)max (σt)max (σt)max (σt)max
Time (hrs)
Specimen 01: (250 mm×25 mm×3 mm)
144 985.761 896.161 308.398 506.432
288 985.761 878.194 186.83 419.605
Specimen 02: (250 mm×25 mm×3 mm)
144 945.765 896.161 298.395 531.945
288 945.765 883.632 156.436 377.797

Fig.5. Load vs displacement diagram of different specimens: (a) specimen under marine water treatment; (b) specimen under 30% NaOH
treatment; (c) specimen under 30% H2SO4 treatment at 288 hrs & 144 hrs respectively
 Ranjan K. Behera et al./ Materials Today: Proceedings 5 (2018) 20250–20256 20255

Fig.6. Load vs displacement diagram of specimens under different environmental conditions: (a) test after 288 hrs; (b) test after 144 hrs

4. Conclusions

From the results and graphs obtained the following conclusions are made.

 It is seen that as time increases the strength of the specimen immersed in marine water decreases but the
reduction is very slow. But, the strength of the specimens immersed in sodium hydroxide solution shows a
minor reduction in tensile strength.Whereas, the strength of the specimens immersed in sulphuric acid
solution shows a drastic reduction in tensile strength
 It is seen that as time increases the strength of the specimen immersed in salt water decreases but the
reduction is very slow. But, the strength of the normal specimen shows a drastic reduction in tensile
strength. As the immersion period increases, the strength reduces. The H2SO4 solution enters into the voids
very soon and reduces the strength. The reactions of the sodium hydroxide on the specimens are also a bit
slower. Compared to base, the acid reactions are faster on the Kevlar epoxy specimens.

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