Synergies of material and geometrical non-linearities allow for the tuning of damping properties of functionally graded composite materials

• Published in: Journal of materials science Vol. 58; no. 23; pp. 9486 - 9501
• Main Authors: Romanò, Jacopo, Garavaglia, Lorenzo, Lazzari, Fabio, Volontè, Francesco, Briatico Vangosa, Francesco, Pittaccio, Simone
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.06.2023; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Analysis; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Classical Mechanics; Composite materials; Composites & Nanocomposites; Crystallography and Scattering Methods; Curing; Damping; Epoxy resins; Fibers; Functionally gradient materials; Intermetallic compounds; Materials Science; Mechanical properties; Morphology; Nanocomposites; Nickel titanides; Plasma sintering; Polymer Sciences; Polymers; Powder metallurgy; Solid Mechanics; Strain; Temperature; Titanium; Wire
• ISSN: 0022-2461; 1573-4803
• DOI: 10.1007/s10853-023-08612-2

In this study, we present an alternative fabrication technique to obtain functionally graded polymer–metal composites. The aim is to obtain a composite material with a graded damping factor, which is provided by the presence of pseudoelastic nickel–titanium (NiTi) fibres within an epoxy resin matrix. A preliminary dynamic mechanical characterisation of the NiTi wire revealed a pre-strain dependency of its damping factor. By fabricating wires with curved geometries in the free state, we were able to obtain fibres with a graded level of pre-strain when straightened. This feature in turn imparts a graded damping response. When encapsulating the straightened fibres in an epoxy resin, the graded damping response is transferred to the composite.