Morphology, mechanical behavior, and prediction of A-glass/SiO₂/epoxy nanocomposite using response surface methodology

Abstract

Response surface methodology (RSM) is used to study the mechanical and morphological properties of glass fiber (GF)/epoxy composites. The Box–Behnken method was used to design the experiments and quantify the effects of GF content, glass fiber length (GFL), and silica nanoparticles (SiO2). Each variable consisted of three levels: GF (5, 10, and 15 wt%), GFL (3, 6, and 9 mm), and SiO2 (0, 0.75, and 1.5 wt%). Tensile tests were performed to obtain the tensile strength and elongation at break of the samples, and morphology properties were studied by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that at high levels of GF, the tensile strength, and elongation at break decreased up to 42% and 30%, respectively. Although increasing the GFL from 6 mm to 9 mm deceased tensile strength by 13%, the elongation at break increased by 7%. The presence of SiO2 at medium level in the composites decreased the elongation but enhanced the tensile strength by 10%. In addition, RSM was employed to develop the mathematical model between process variables. The developed models were validated by the analysis of variance. The R2 obtained from analysis of variance results and normal probability plots showed that the experimental data had a good agreement with those predicted by the models (above 0.95 for all responses).

Structural analysis of sol-gel derived TiO2 nanoparticles: a critical impact of TiO2 nanoparticles on thermo-mechanical mechanism of glass fiber polymer composites

“…The results examined that, dispersion of TiO2 nanoparticles in epoxy matrix are properly mixed with less than one % of voids that, results superior interfacial bond with glass fiber reinforcements. The similar observation is also reported with previous studies [59,60]. The thermo-mechanical performances of developed composites indicated that, incorporation of TiO2 nanoparticles up to 1.5% TiO2 nanoparticles are well dispersed with epoxy matrix and create strong interfacial bond with glass fibers.…”

Microstructural analysis and multi‐response optimization of mechanical properties of bulk molding compound

“…Similar results for improvement of the strain at break due to the FL were reported by some researchers. [43,47,48] The interaction between FW and FL and their influence on the strain at break is indicated in Figure 7(B). There is an interaction between FW and FL because the lines are not parallel.…”

“…The polymers reinforced by short fibers showed more brittle behavior than longer ones. [43,47,48,51] The interaction between FW and FL on the deflection at break is shown in Figure 10(B). According to this figure, in 3 and 12 mm FL, it is decreased by the addition of FW from 1.17 to 0.92 mm and 2.84 to 1.68 mm, respectively, although in 6 mm FL, it is increased from 2.05 to 2.70 mm, then decreased up to 1.54 mm.…”

Effect of fumed silica and halloysite nanoparticles on the microstructure, mechanical, and fracture properties of thermoplastic polyolefin elastomer toughened polypropylene

“…A few authors have endeavored to maximize or minimize the properties of composites to achieve the best toughness-strengthstiffness balance in blend nanocomposites. [35,36] In our previous work, [37] the tensile, flexural, and impact properties of unsaturated polyester/styrene-butadiene rubber/ glass fiber/SiO 2 were maximized by utilizing a full factorial methodology.…”