Compressive mechanical properties of ZnO whiskers secondary reinforced composites

The quasi-static and dynamic compressive properties of glass-fiber polymer composites embedded with different mass fractions ZnO whiskers were investigated by an Instron testing machine and a split-Hopkinson pressure bar in the normal direction and the in-plane direction，respectively. In each direction，the stress-strain curve was obtained and the failure mechanism of materials was investigated by the macroscopic and microscopic observation of fractured specimens. The experimental results show that the materials have obvious non-linear constitutive relation and strain rate strengthening effects. The specimens have various failure modes，in each direction. The peak stress and failure strain of the specimens are both related with the mass fraction of ZnO whiskers.