Sains Malaysiana 49(9)(2020): 2197-2210

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2020-4909-17

Improvement of Fatigue Resistance of Epoxy Composite with Heterogeneous Solid-State Self-Healing System

(Peningkatan Ketahanan Kelesuan Komposit Epoksi dengan Sistem Penyembuhan Diri Keadaan Pepejal Heterogen)

MOHD SUZEREN MD JAMIL*, WAN NAQIUDDIN WAN ZULRUSHDI & NOOR NABILAH MUHAMAD

Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Received: 15 October 2019/Accepted: 8 May 2020

Abstract

The purpose of this research study was to investigate the improvement in fatigue life parameters and static strength residues of heterogeneous solid-state of the self-healing resin after exposure to fatigue cycles. The healing system is based on the thermoplastic-thermosetting semi-interpenetrating network. This system employs a thermosetting resin, into which a linear thermoplastic of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) as is dissolved. Upon heating a fractured resin system at a specific temperature, the heterogeneous resin blend undergoes a volumetric thermal expansion of healing agent within the matrix resin for crack recovery. Under the Compact tension (CT) test and within the third healing cycle, the modified resin with PVC has the average percentage recovery of 75-48% compared with PP, PE, or PVA at around 67-31%, respectively. The modified epoxy fatigue life with PVC and PP was shown to be increased by a factor of about 1.5 and 1.1 times after healing periods. The healable (modified) resin also showed an improvement in residual strength than the control resin after exposure to fatigue cycles. The fatigue-healing process was proven through the surface and cross-section resin morphology analysis using a microscopy optic and scanning electron microscope (SEM). On the whole, the heterogeneous solid-state self-healing system has proven to be effective in obstructing fatigue crack propagation, effectively improved the self-healing polymeric material to achieve higher life extension.

Keywords: Fatigue life; healing agent; heterogeneous; residual strength; self-healing resin

ABSTRAK

Fokus penyelidikan ini adalah untuk mengkaji peningkatan dalam parameter jangka hayat kelesuan dan residu kekuatan statik bagi swapemulihan resin heterogen dalam keadaan pepejal selepas terdedah kepada kitaran muatan lesu. Sistem pemulihan ini adalah berdasarkan kepada penembusan/peresapan sebahagian rangkaian termoplastik-termoset. Sistem ini menggunakan resin termoset yang dilarutkan bersama termoplastik poli(vinil klorida) (PVC), poli(vinil alkohol) (PVA), polietilena (PE) atau polipropilena (PP). Apabila sistem resin yang mengalami keretakan dipanaskan pada suhu tertentu, campuran resin heterogen ini akan mengalami pengembangan volumetrik termal pada agen pemulihan dalam matriks resin untuk pemulihan keretakan. Di bawah ujian tegangan padat (CT) dan dalam kitaran pemulihan ketiga, resin yang diubah suai dengan PVC mempunyai purata peratus pemulihan tertinggi sebanyak 75-48% berbanding dengan PP, PE, atau PVA pada 67-31%. Kesan pemanjangan hayat kelesuan bagi resin yang diubah suai bersama PVC atau PP menunjukkan peningkatan dalam faktor masa sekitar 1.5 dan 1.1 kali selepas tempoh pemulihan. Resin pemulihan (terubah suai) ini juga menunjukkan peningkatan kekuatan bahan berbanding resin kawalan selepas didedahan kepada kitaran muatan lesu. Proses pemulihan kelesuan dibuktikan melalui analisis morfologi pada permukaan dan keratan rentas resin menggunakan mikroskop optik dan mikroskop elektron pengimbasan (SEM). Secara keseluruhannya, sistem swapemulihan resin heterogen dalam keadaan pepejal telah dibuktikan berkesan dalam menghalang penyebaran keretakan lesu dan dapat memperbaiki swa-pemulihan bahan polimer secara berkesan untuk peningkatan jangka hayat yang lebih tinggi.

Kata kunci:  Agen pemulihan; hayat lesu; heterogen; kekuatan residu; swapemulihan resin

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*Corresponding author; email: suzeren@ukm.edu.my