Investigating the Effects of SiO2 - TiO2 Concentration in Epoxy-Based Hybrid Nanocomposites

Abstract

The hand-lay-up mixing/casting process was used in this study to fabricate epoxy nanocomposites reinforced with SiO₂ and TiO₂ nanoparticles. The produced composites' thermal and thermogravimetric characteristics were examined using the correct characterization methods. Preparation of epoxy/ 2%wt SiO₂ and epoxy/ SiO2-TiO2 hybrid nanocomposites (HNC) was studied and investigated in this paper. The HNC were processed using different TiO₂ nano filler concentrations (i.e. 0, 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9) wt%. The results of  DSC showed that  The Glass Transition Temperature (Tg) of pure epoxy was (85.5°C) that of increases with the increase in the filler content (wt%),  while the results of (TGA) curves showed that the pure (Epoxy) underwent one stages thermos gravimetric analysis process and total weight loss was (98.76%), and the weight ratios of the added SiO₂-TiO₂ hybrid nanocomposites showed one and two stages of thermos gravimetric analysis of the weight loss process and total weight loss were lower compared with pure  Epoxy. Because of improved interfacial contact and uniform nanoparticle dispersion, the results showed that the addition of SiO₂ and TiO₂ nanoparticles considerably improved the epoxy matrix's examined characteristics. These results demonstrate how well hybrid nanoparticle reinforcement may enhance the functionality of epoxy-based nanocomposites.