Development of pseudo-ductile interlayer hybrid composites of standard thickness plies by interleaving polyamide 6 nanofibrous layers

A practical and effective way to provide fibre reinforced polymer composites with a safety margin before the final failure and a stable damage process is explored in this study. Mode II interlaminar fracture toughness has been increased in the hybrid composites made with standard thickness carbon/glass-epoxy plies by interleaving polyamide 6 nanofibrous layers between the carbon/epoxy and the glass/epoxy layers. The hybrid laminates exhibited pseudo-ductile behaviour, based on the fragmentation of the carbon/epoxy layer. The simple manufacturing method, by treating nanofibrous layers as “veils” to be stacked between prepregs sheets, revealed potential for large-scale application of this technique. Further enhancement of the material's mode II fracture toughness has been demonstrated by stacking multiple nanofibrous layers together.