Dynamic mechanical behavior of fiber reinforced polymer composites embedded with ZnO whiskers

Glass fiber reinforced polymer composites were prepared by dispersing zinc oxide (ZnO) whiskers in resin matrix. Static and dynamic tensile tests of the as-prepared composites were performed by means of a universal testing machine and the split hopkinson tensile bar (SHTB), respectively. Good tensile properties, which can be affected by the strain rates, of the composites are obtained. The fracture section morphology of the composites was investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The different failure of the composites under static and dynamic tension is found. The tensile properties of the composites are dominated by pull-out and fracture of fiber bundles. The influence of ZnO whiskers on the performance of composites has been discussed. ZnO whiskers, which have unique three-dimensional structures and corresponding stress transfer, contribute to the tensile properties of the composites.