Low-Velocity Impact Resistance of Al/Gf/PP Laminates with Different Interface Performance

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Mechanical Engineering
• Composite Materials

Background:

• Weak interfaces between metals and composites (IPMC) compromise material performance under impact.
• Aluminum/glass fiber/polypropylene (Al/Gf/PP) laminates are susceptible to impact-induced damage due to interface limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact resistance of Al/Gf/PP laminates with modified aluminum alloy sheets.
• To compare the effectiveness of nitrogen plasma surface treatment versus phosphoric acid anodizing on interface performance and impact behavior.

Main Methods:

• Manufacturing Al/Gf/PP laminates using aluminum alloy sheets treated by nitrogen plasma or phosphoric acid anodizing.
• Establishing Finite Element Method (FEM) models in ABAQUS/Explicit for low-velocity impact analysis.
• Conducting low-velocity impact tests to evaluate load traces, failure mechanisms, and energy absorption.

Main Results:

• Delamination was the primary failure mode at 20-30 J impact energy for both treatments.
• Plasma-treated specimens showed metal cracks at 40-50 J impact energy, indicating higher energy absorption and impact resistance.
• At 60 J impact energy, plasma-treated specimens exhibited higher Specific Energy Absorption (SEA) values due to improved IPMC.

Conclusions:

• Improved IPMC is crucial for enhancing the impact resistance of Al/Gf/PP laminates.
• Nitrogen plasma surface treatment offers superior performance in terms of energy absorption and impact resistance compared to phosphoric acid anodizing.
• The interface plays a significant role in stress transmission, with better interfaces leading to greater energy absorption in composite laminates.