Influence of Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles on Kevlar/Epoxy Composites

Abstract

This research was aimed to perform a symmetric investigation regarding the influence of two types of nanoparticles, on some mechanical and morphological behaviors of the Kevlar/epoxy nanocomposites. Composites were prepared by dispersing nanoparticles of nano ZnO and TiO2 at loading of 1, 2 and 4 wt.% of each in (Kevlar/epoxy) composite using high speed mechanical mixer followed by sonication, then injecting them inside the cavity of a two plates glass mold. After curing they were characterized by tensile tests, flexural test, creep test and SEM. The results showed that the maximum increase of mean stress (41%) and the maximum flexural strength was obtained for system containing 4 wt.% of both nano ZnO and TiO2 particles, i.e., EKZ4 and EKT4 . SEM images for processed specimens were taken to observe the analogy distribution of both nanoparticles through the fiber/epoxy system. The improvement in the mechanical properties of nanocomposite EKT2 (2% TiO2)and EKZ2 (2% ZnO) attributed by the homogeneity of the nanoparticles distribution inside the epoxy which appear in SEM images. Also, the semispherical shape of nanoparticles led to uniform distribution of the nano particles inside Epoxy-keflar resin.