Epoxy-Based Hybrid Structural Composites with Nanofillers: A Review

Abstract

Research and development in the field of structural composites have explored various combinations of materials and methods to fulfill the load-bearing demands of industries such as automotive, aerospace, military, civil, and construction. Continuous fiber-reinforced composites based on epoxy are extensively used for primary load-bearing structural applications, owing to their unique characteristics and abilities compared to their counterparts with other polymers, thermosets in particular. With the introduction of nanotechnology and the resultant development of a new class of materials called nanomaterials, it has been observed that various properties of composites can be enhanced by the incorporation of these materials into composites. Different nanofiller materials have different effects on composite properties. This review focuses on a survey of literature published over the last two decades in which nanofillers were utilized to enhance the structural properties of epoxy-based fiber-reinforced composites. Composite modifications using carbon-based nanomaterials (fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, graphene nanoplatelets, graphene oxide), nanosilica, nanoclay, etc. are discussed in detail. A brief summary of the use of a combination of nanofillers and attempts on the modification of reinforcement fabric is also presented.

3D Printable All-Polymer Epoxy Composites

“…Epoxy resins are well-known thermosets used in many fields such as automotive manufacturing, wind turbine blades, adhesives, and coatings. − The utility of these materials arises from a unique combination of processability, strength, adhesion, and thermal and chemical stability. , However, the manufacturing techniques of thermosets are not as diversified as thermoplastics and include some stringent requirements for the raw materials, such as viscosity and curing kinetics . If moldings are required, the fabrication of new molds can also be costly and time-consuming.…”

The effect of nano- and micron-scale filler modified epoxy matrix on glass-fiber reinforced polymer insulator component behavior

“…2 This excludes the use of most carbon-based species, such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, carbon black, or combinations of these that induce electrical conductivity in epoxy. 3,4 A second limitation comes from the application of the silicone rubber housing, excluding epoxy-based matrix materials with a glasstransition temperature (Tg) below about þ140 C determined from the maximum of the loss modulus E 00 from dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). This is due to the comparatively high process temperature during application of the silicone rubber.…”

Enhancing Thermo-Mechanical Properties of Epoxy Composites Using Fumed Silica with Different Surface Treatment

“…Therefore, when an epoxy composite is used in combination with a material having a different coefficient of thermal expansion, such as a metal, peeling or cracking may occur because of their different thermal deformations. In recent times, many studies have been conducted to improve the fluidity and enhance the impact reinforcement effects of epoxy resins by introducing fumed silica particles [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]. These particles serve as inorganic fillers to produce epoxy nanocomposite materials.…”