The effect of surface modified nanoclay on the interfacial and mechanical properties of basalt fiber metal laminates

In this study, the effect of different percentages of modified nanoclay (1, 3, and 5 wt%) on the mechanical behavior of fiber metal laminates (FMLs) made up of aluminum and basalt fibers-epoxy composite was investigated. The surface treatment was conducted on aluminum in order to obtain a proper adhesion between aluminum and epoxy. The Charpy test results showed that the absorbed energy values of the samples containing nanoclay were increased compared to the samples without nanoclay. Improving the impact strength of FMLs containing nanoclay was due to the enhancement of the basalt fibers/epoxy interfacial properties and creating some physical entanglement such as mechanical interlocking between the polymer chains and nanoclay. Otherwise, nanoclay addition decreased the interlaminar shear strength of FMLs. The microscopic images of aluminum debonding surfaces revealed that the agglomerated nanoclay particles prevent the epoxy infiltration into porous structures of aluminum layer and consequently, weaken the interlaminar shear strength.