Study on the Mechanical and Toughness Behavior of Epoxy Nano-Composites with Zero-Dimensional and Two-Dimensional Nano-Fillers

Abstract

The mechanical properties of epoxy resin can be enhanced by adding nanofillers into its matrix. This study researches and compares the impacts of adding nanofillers with different dimensions, including two-dimensional boron nitride and zero-dimensional silica, on the mechanical and toughness properties of epoxy resin. At low fractions (0–2.0 wt%), 2DBN/epoxy composites have a higher Young’s modulus, fracture toughness and critical strain energy release rate compared to SiO2/epoxy composites. However, the workability deteriorated drastically for BN/epoxy composites above a specific nanofiller concentration (2.0–3.0 wt%). BN prevents crack growth by drawing and bridging. SiO2 enhances performance by deflecting the crack direction and forming voids. Additionally, the dimension and content of nanofiller also influence glass transition temperature and storage modulus significantly.