The Use of a Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube for Improving the Mechanical Performance of Epoxy Resin-Based Metal Oxide Hybrid Nanocomposites

Abstract

This study aims to explore the improvement in the mechanical characterization of epoxy-resin (EPR) based hybrid nanocomposite, reinforced with multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT), zirconium dioxide (ZrO2), and yttrium oxide (Y2O3) nanoparticles (NPs). The effect of different components on the tensile properties of filled EPR nanocomposites (NCs) was investigated. Results show a remarkable improvement in the mechanical properties of hybrid NCs at small loading levels of MWCNT. Adding 0.1 wt% of MWCNT has increased the composites Young’s modulus by 28.38%. The reduction of elongation at break for EPR upon incorporating MWCNT is due to the high agglomerates of MWCNT in the PNCs. The low-weight fraction of CNTs was found to be effective in enhancing the toughness by 18.13% compared to pure EPR. The optimized hybrid EPR reinforced MWCNT shows a higher Young’s modulus value of 2492.06 MPa upon loading 1 wt% NPs.