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Journal of Polymer & Composites Original Research Special issue

Experimental Analysis of Aramid Fiber Reinforced with Tungsten Carbide

  1. Prashant Manvi Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology (NMIT), Bengaluru
  2. Siddalingappa P. Kodigaddi Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology (NMIT), Bengaluru
  3. Srikanth H.V. Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology (NMIT), Bengaluru
  4. Rachitha A Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology (NMIT), Bengaluru
  5. Aswin Sidharth M. Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology (NMIT), Bengaluru
  6. Ullas Gowda A. Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology (NMIT), Bengaluru

Abstract

This study investigates the mechanical performance of aramid fiber-reinforced epoxy composites enhanced with varying weight percentages of tungsten carbide (WC) powder as a secondary reinforcement. The composites were fabricated using both the hand lay-up and vacuum bagging techniques to ensure uniform dispersion of materials and quality surface finish. Tungsten carbide particles with an average size of 4 microns were incorporated into the aramid fiber matrix at incremental concentrations of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% by weight. The aim was to evaluate the influence of WC loading on key mechanical properties such as tensile strength, yield load, elongation at yield, and elongation at break. Experimental results revealed a progressive enhancement in tensile properties with increasing WC content. Among all the compositions, the composite containing 20% tungsten carbide demonstrated the highest mechanical performance, exhibiting a peak tensile strength of 359.68 N/mm² and a peak load of 22.48 kN, surpassing all other formulations. This optimized performance can be attributed to the effective load distribution and interfacial bonding between the aramid fibers and the hard WC particles. The composite with 15% WC displayed slightly lower tensile strength but recorded the highest elongation at break, suggesting a favorable trade-off between stiffness and ductility. The findings confirm that tungsten carbide significantly enhances the structural integrity of aramid fiber composites, with 20% WC emerging as the most effective filler ratio. These results indicate the potential of such hybrid composites for applications requiring high strength, wear resistance, and thermal stability, such as in defense and structural engineering.

Keywords

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