The effects of nano-alumina particles on the enrichment of tensile, flexural and impact properties of carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy composites

Abstract

An experimental investigation to determine how the mechanical properties of carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy-based composites with alumina nanoparticles are affected by the fiber and filler materials. The analysis used a digital Universal Testing Machine (UTM) and an impact tester. The weight percentage of nano alumina particles are 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Besides, the carbon fiber contents are varied as 34, 33, 32, 31, and 30 wt%, respectively. The hand layup technique fabricated the hybrid composite. The epoxy resin matrix was kept constant (65%). All the test specimens analyze through ASTM standards. The tensile strength, flexural strength, impact strength, and water absorption percentages of all fabricated hybrid composites observed between 59.51 and 78.45 MPa, 38.68–50.99 MPa, 12.12–16.81 kJ/m2 and 1.92–2.17% respectively. The manufactured composite specimens' mechanical properties increase with the weight percentage of the filler particles. An additional quantity of filler (3, 4, and 5 wt%) substances in the epoxy matrix caused a reduction of mechanical properties. Experiment results show that increasing the amount of nano alumina particles in composites leads to notable improvements in the fabricated composites' tensile, flexural, impact, and water absorption capability. These mechanical property enhancements increase from the epoxy resin matrix to the carbon fiber and alumina nanoparticles. The outcome of strong bonding connections between the fiber and matrix demonstrates the developed resistance to thread draw out about fiber-reinforced composites lacking nano alumina particles.