Abstract
Critical examinations were made to understand the thermophysical behavior of zirconium dioxide (ZrO2)–epoxy nanocomposite using differential thermal analysis/thermogravimetric analysis studies. ZrO2 nanoparticles in the size range of 20–30 nm were used as fillers. Ultrasonic dual mode mixing (UDMM) at two different amplitudes of 40% and 55% was employed to produce ZrO2-epoxy nanocomposites. Dispersion of less clustered ZrO2 nanoparticles in epoxy matrix demonstrates the importance of high amplitude of UDMM. Thermal degradation reaction kinetics of the nanocomposite was determined using Coats–Redfern and integral method of Horowitz and Metzger. Processing by the UDMM route at high amplitude not only significantly increases the glass transition temperature but also noticeably enhances the thermal stability of the nanocomposite. Improvement in thermal stability is attributed to the good dispersion of nanoparticles in epoxy matrix and formation of a large interface between epoxy matrix and nanoparticles. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to understand the molecular structure of base matrix as well as nanocomposite.
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