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Knitted Fabric Reinforced Epoxy Composites: A Comprehensive Overview
Introduction to Knitted Fabric Reinforced Epoxy Composites
Knitted fabric reinforced epoxy composites have garnered significant attention due to their unique mechanical properties and potential applications in various industries. These composites combine the flexibility and strength of knitted fabrics with the rigidity and durability of epoxy resins, resulting in materials with enhanced performance characteristics.
Tensile Properties of Knitted Fabric Reinforced Epoxy Composites
Plain Weft Knitted Glass Fiber Fabric
The tensile properties of plain weft knitted glass fiber fabric reinforced epoxy composites have been extensively studied. These composites exhibit distinct tensile behaviors in the wale and course directions. Experimental investigations have shown that the elastic modulus and tensile strength can be predicted using modified rule-of-mixtures laws and finite element models, which incorporate the reinforcement efficiency of curved fiber bundles . The failure mechanisms are primarily due to the fracture of fiber bundles bridging the fracture plane, as observed through in-situ damage recording and SEM analysis .
Knitted Carbon Fiber Fabric
Knitted carbon fiber fabric reinforced epoxy laminates also demonstrate notable tensile properties. Models predicting the elastic modulus and tensile strength have shown good agreement with experimental results, although the predicted tensile strengths tend to be higher due to bending stresses reducing the failure load of the bundles.
Flexural and Impact Properties
Flax and Glass Fiber Fabrics
The flexural and impact properties of composites reinforced with flax woven, rib knitted, and sequentially stacked knitted/woven preforms have been investigated. Woven preform reinforced laminates generally perform better in both flexural and impact properties across various lay-up angles and thicknesses. Interestingly, laminates with knitted preform as skin layers exhibit superior properties among the sequentially stacked configurations.
Glass Ply Yarns
Double-layered rib knitted glass fabric-reinforced epoxy laminates, made from untwisted roving and twisted ply yarns, show that the introduction of inlay fiber strands enhances mechanical properties in the coursewise direction. The 0/90 stacking sequence particularly improves impact properties compared to the 0/0 sequence.
Bending Properties of Biaxial Weft Knitted Fabrics
Three-Layer and Four-Layer Configurations
Biaxial weft knitted fabric reinforced composites, both in three-layer and four-layer configurations, have been studied for their bending properties. These composites, made with carbon fiber as inserted yarns and polyester yarns as knitted yarns, exhibit excellent bending strength, which increases with the fiber volume fraction. The load-deflection curves of these composites show linear characteristics, indicating good structural integrity under bending loads .
Energy Absorption Characteristics
Knitted fabric reinforced epoxy composite tubes, made from glass and carbon fibers, have been evaluated for their energy absorption capabilities. Factors such as fiber content, fiber orientation, and testing speed significantly influence the crush zone morphology and specific energy absorption. These composites demonstrate promising energy absorption characteristics, making them suitable for applications requiring high impact resistance.
Fracture Toughness
The fracture toughness of knitted fabric reinforced composites has been assessed using the Arcan test. Composites reinforced with 1x1 rib knitted glass/epoxy and carbon/epoxy fabrics show varied mechanical behaviors under tensile, compressive, and shear loads. The fracture toughness under different loading conditions (Mode I, Mode II, and mixed Mode I/II) indicates that knitted fabrics can serve as effective reinforcing materials in laminated composites.
Innovative 3D Spacer Weft-Knitted Fabrics
Recent advancements in 3D spacer weft-knitted fabrics have led to the development of thermoset composites with enhanced mechanical properties. These fabrics, made from E-glass fibers and infused with epoxy resin, exhibit high functionality and design flexibility. Bending and compression tests confirm that these newly designed composites have superior mechanical performance compared to conventional woven and warp-knitted spacer composites.
Conclusion
Knitted fabric reinforced epoxy composites offer a unique combination of flexibility, strength, and durability, making them suitable for a wide range of applications. Ongoing research continues to optimize their mechanical properties and expand their potential uses in various industries.
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