Fracture Analysis and a Novel Relation Between the Quality of Interface and the Fracture Energy to Epoxy Composites Reinforced with Medium and High Ramie Woven Fabric Volume Fractions

A literature review in the context of polymer composites reveals that the natural fibers have been widely used as reinforcement phase, at least, in the last two decades. In this development direction, the lignocellulosic fibers have been highlighted due to their environmental, thermomechanical and economic advantages to many industry sectors. This research aims to analyze experimentally the fracture of ramie woven fabric reinforced epoxy composite specimens subjected to Charpy test and based on specific theoretical knowledge, to state a novel relationship between the quality of interface and the fracture energy. To reach this objectives, the study is designed with three groups (40%, 50% and 60% of fiber volume fractions) of intact samples and three groups of C-UV aged specimens containing the same percentage of reinforcement. Afterwards, a fracture surface analysis is done to support the study about the samples fracture behavior and describe the referred relation introducing an interface quality variable. According to the results obtained, could be concluded that the relationship proposed is in congruence with the fracture surface characterizations made.