Abstract
The viscoelastic and flexural properties of epoxy/alumina polymer nanocomposites (PNC) at different weight fractions (0.5, 1 and 1.5 wt.%) were evaluated. PNC-containing rod-shaped alumina nanoparticles having diameter in the range of 10 nm and a length less than 50 nm were prepared by in situ polymerisation technique. Good dispersion of alumina nanoparticles in epoxy matrix was observed through transmission electron micrographs of nanocomposites. Dynamic mechanical analysis tests were performed to determine the viscoelastic properties of PNC, and three-point bend flexural test was performed to evaluate the flexural properties of PNC. The addition of nanoparticles in epoxy had significant effect on the viscoelastic properties and moderate effect on flexural properties of composites. A maximum of 38 and 60% increase in storage and loss modulus of nanocomposite was observed at 1 wt.% of alumina nanorods, respectively, whereas a moderate increment of 18% in flexural modulus and 13% in flexural strength was recorded for nanocomposites at the same wt.% of alumina nanorods.
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