Recycled Ti6Al4V alloy powder reinforced polyurethane core based sandwich structures: Mechanical and modal properties

In this study, recycled Ti6Al4V alloy powder was utilized as a reinforcement to enhance the mechanical and modal properties of polyurethane foam (PUF) core-based sandwich composites. Sandwich composite having carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite face sheets and Ti6Al4V powder-reinforced PUF cores were manufactured. The PUF cores were reinforced with two different variants of Ti6Al4V powder based on particle sizes from 1 to 3 wt.%. The dispersion quality was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A detailed experimental modal analysis was conducted to evaluate the modal properties in terms of the natural frequencies and damping ratios of the sandwich specimens. A comprehensive mechanical study was also conducted in terms of compression, buckling, flexural, and impact tests according to the relative ASTM standards. The experimental results demonstrated that the Ti6Al4V reinforced sandwich specimens exhibited superior mechanical and modal properties with enhanced PUF cores. Improvements in excess of 21%, 37%, and 24% were recorded in the compression, buckling, and flexural response of the reinforced specimens, respectively, compared to those of their neat counterparts. Similarly, remarkable improvements were also observed in the experimental modal and impact properties of the Ti6Al4V alloy powder-reinforced sandwich composites.