Investigating flexural and impact resilience of hybrid epoxy nanocomposites reinforced with carbon black – silica nanofiller

Abstract

The mechanical performance of epoxy nanocomposites is crucial for their application in advanced engineering fields, yet enhancing their strength, stiffness, and impact resistance remains a challenge. This research investigates the flexural and impact resilience of hybrid carbon black-silica nanofiller-reinforced epoxy nanocomposites. This study seeks to determine the optimal composition and processing conditions that maximize mechanical performance by systematically varying the content and ratio of carbon black and silica nanoparticles. The production process involved preheating epoxy resin, incorporating nanofillers, and thorough mixing, followed by curing and characterization through flexural and impact tests adhering to ASTM standards. Response surface methodology was utilized to optimize the experimental design. The results indicated that combining thermally and chemically treated carbon black with silica nanoparticles significantly enhanced the mechanical properties. Specifically, the optimal nanocomposite exhibited a flexural strength increase from 65 MPa (pure epoxy) to 105 MPa and an impact resistance improvement from 0.5 kJ/m² (pure epoxy) to 1.3 kJ/m². Microstructural analysis via SEM confirmed a homogeneous nanofillers dispersion, contributing to the observed improvements. It is recommended to further explore these nanocomposite formulations for their potential in diverse engineering applications, ensuring high performance and resilience.