Synthesis and characterization of composite materials with enhanced thermo-mechanical properties for unmanned aerial vehicles (Uavs) and aerospace technologies

Abstract

Lightweight and high strength composite materials are vital for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and aerospace technologies with desired characteristics. Carbon composite materials exhibit extraordinary properties for UAVs and aerospace applications. This study aimed to discover the best-prepared composition of composites material having epoxy LY-5052 and carbon fibres laminate for UAVs. Besides, to develop a low cost with high specific strength composite material for aerospace application to replace metallic alloys. In this work, the vacuum bag technique is used to prepare rectangular strips of three different ratios of carbon fibre/epoxy laminates [(40:60), (50:50) and (60:40)] to obtain the best composite in terms of properties. The thermo-mechanical and viscoelastic behaviour of composite materials were evaluated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), universal testing machine (UTM) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The tensile strength of epoxy LY5052 composites with 60 wt% has enhanced to 986%, and glass transition temperature (Tg) was improved from 71oC to 110oC. Overall, 60 wt% carbon fibre exhibits better thermo-mechanical properties with lightweight, which may be a future composite material for aerospace, especially UAVs technologies.