Mechanical properties in glass fiber PVC-foam sandwich structures from different chopped fiber interfacial reinforcement through vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) processing

Sandwich beams were prepared by vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding, containing a PVC foam core covered with two glass fiber/epoxy composite face sheets. Their mechanical properties were measured by impact test and three-point bending (3 PB) test. To improve the interfacial bonding between the PVC foam core and glass fiber face sheets as well as the mechanical properties of the sandwich structure, different chopped fibers (aramid fiber,...