Advanced properties and failure characteristics of hybrid GFRP-matrix thin laminates modified by micro glass powder filler for hard structure applications

Fiber reinforced polymer has been used in a broad scope of engineering equipment due to its outstanding advantages. This study investigated the effect of glass powder filler in the matrix modification of glass fiber reinforced polymer that can be further applied for hard structures. The composites were manufactured using a vacuum-assisted resin infusion method with 0, 2,5, 5, and 7,5 wt percentages of glass powder filler. The results have shown that adding glass powder filler in glass fiber reinforced polymer modifies the physical characteristics and enhances the mechanical properties compared to the neat composite. The failure mechanism obtained from the fracture surface investigation demonstrates bridging mechanisms formed effect of glass powder filler addition in the glass fiber reinforced polymer. The strengthening mechanism is formed to enhance the interfacial bonding between the fiber and the matrix. The results reveal the optimum filler addition percentage at 2,5 wt. Adding 2,5 wt glass powder filler enhances the flexural strength and interlaminar shear strength by 18,86 and 19,54, respectively. The glass powder addition offers higher resistance to interlaminar damage. Additional glass powder with a higher weight percentage above the threshold induced microvoid and agglomeration phenomenon. © 2023 The Authors