Tensile properties of Nickel epoxy nanocomposites prepared by combination ultrasonication and shear mixing methods

Abstract

Abstract Tensile properties of nanocomposites (polymer filled with nanoparticles) found numerous applications such as coating, encapsulate, and enhance tensile properties of electrical boards. The Tensile properties of epoxy resin (Nitofill EPLV) and Nickel epoxy nanocomposites (Nickel: Ni, 20 nm) were investigated by using Hounsfield tensile machine model (H10KS). The influence of Ni nanoparticles (filler content 1–5 vol%) on epoxy nanocomposites was studied. The experimental results indicated that the increase of Ni nanoparticles lead to increase Nickel epoxy nanocomposites for bearing applied force. Tensile strength and tensile modulus of Nickel epoxy nanocomposites also increase with the addition of Ni nanoparticles; maximum increment occurs at 3 vol% of Ni nanoparticles. The performance of tensile properties improvement multiply four times approximately. High content of Ni nanoparticles were unfavorable for increasing the tensile properties of the epoxy nanocomposites. The results have been supported with scanning electron microscope SEM-TESCAN device model VEGA3 to help understand tensile properties enhancement mechanisms. SEM images of Nickel epoxy nanocomposites show disappear of both flat surface and debond areas, while liner cracks become curved cracks. These feature of SEM images of Nickel epoxy nanocomposites indicate Ni nanoparticles enhance the structure of epoxy chains distribution and ability of bearing applied force.