Optimized SiC nanoparticle reinforcement for superior strength, stiffness, and damage resistance in glass fiber-aluminum fiber metal laminates

The popularity of Fiber Metal Laminate (FML) increases because its mechanical strengths emerge from the combination of fiber and metal components. This study evaluates how silicon carbide (SiC) nanoparticle reinforcement influences the mechanical characteristics of glass fiber-aluminum FMLs. A number of FMLs were fabricated through the hand lay-up technique, followed by vacuum molding. The investigation of nanoparticle content included using four different weight percentages of SiC in epoxy matrix: 0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%. Mechanical characterization of the developed laminates, including tensile, flexural, impact, and interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) tests, was performed to determine their mechanical properties. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was also carried out to understand the failure mechanism of the sample during different destructive tests. The study indicates that SiC at 1.0 wt.% shows the most effective reinforcement by improving tensile strength by 28.99% while increasing tensile modulus by 44.09%. The aluminum-composite layers displayed improved flexural strength by 61.86% at the same concentration, while impact strength increased by 10.84%, and interlaminar shear strength reached 59.32%. The mechanical properties decrease after reaching the optimal concentration point of nanoparticles due to dispersion limitations, resulting in reduced matrix integrity. The finding shows that the addition of 1.0 wt.% SiC nanoparticles creates the most effective strength-to-weight ratio, positioning it as a superior modification option for advanced lightweight FML structures. This study on SiC nanoparticle reinforcement in glass fiber–aluminum laminates addresses in knowledge gaps addressing the effects of interfacial bonding and filler loading under different mechanical loads. In this work, SiC concentration is optimized and microstructural behavior as determined by SEM is correlated with mechanical performance (tensile, flexural, impact, and ILSS).