ADHESIVE AND VISCOELASTIC RESPONSE OF MWCNT/ZRO2 HYBRID EPOXY NANOCOMPOSITES

Abstract

Hybrid nanofillers consisting of MWCNT (multiwalled carbon nanotubes) functionalized by ZrO2 nanoparticles have been infused in an epoxy matrix to fabricate MWCNT/ZrO2 hybrid epoxy nanocomposites (MNC) using an ultrasonication mixing technique. The structural morphology of the hybrid nanofillers and their dispersion in the epoxy matrix, were studied using transmission electron microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The surface chemical composition of the MWCNT, ZrO2 nanoparticles and hybrid nanofillers were studied using infrared spectroscopy and the elemental composition of the hybrid nanofillers was determined using EDX analysis. The lap joints of copper substrates were prepared by applying neat epoxy and MNC adhesives to carry out the lap shear strength test. It was found that hybrid nanofiller reinforcement of the epoxy matrix led to outstanding mechanical and viscoelastic properties of MNC with respect to neat epoxy. For example, the addition of 1.0 wt.% of hybrid nanofillers in the epoxy matrix increased the tensile strength and toughness of MNC by 19% and 43.5%, respectively, compared to neat epoxy. The storage modulus and lap shear strength of MNC with 1.0 wt.% of hybrid nanofillers improved by 16% and 23%, respectively. © 2021 Mathematical Sciences Publishers. All Rights Reserved.