Enhanced Thermomechanical Properties of ZrO2 Particle Reinforced Epoxy Nanocomposite

Abstract

The present work is focused on the outcome of ZrO2 nanoparticle content variation over viscoelastic, mechanical and thermal properties of epoxy resin. For this, ZrO2–epoxy nanocomposites were prepared using ultrasonic dual mixing technique that consists of simultaneous employing ultrasonic mixing with a rotating impeller. For dynamic mechanical analyses (DMA), a single cantilever mode measurement was performed on neat as well as ZrO2–epoxy nanocomposites to determine the storage modulus, tanδ value and glass transition temperature. Cross-linking density in the rubbery region of composite materials was also identified by DMA analyses. Tensile properties of prepared nanocomposites were measured using universal tensile machine. 4 wt.% ZrO2–epoxy nanocomposite material gives maximum enhancement in storage modulus and tensile strength about 70 and 34% as compared to neat epoxy. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed the improved thermal stability of ZrO2–epoxy composite materials. The uniformity of ZrO2 nanoparticles distribution in epoxy matrix was examined using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM).