Synergistic Effect of Hybrid Nanofillers on Flexural and Impact Behaviour of Glass/Carbon Reinforced Epoxy Hybrid Composites

Abstract

Addressing the issues of epoxy's brittleness and limited stiffness/toughness in long-term applications such as marine, aerospace, and other energy sectors, the novel approach involves the synergistic effects of integrating two nanofillers into an epoxy matrix. Therefore, the study aims to explore the synergistic effects of MWCNTs and HNTs hybrid nanofillers on the flexural, impact, and hardness characteristics of glass/carbon/epoxy-based composites. Three hybrid composites were formulated with equal-weight proportions of two nanofillers. The compositions included: no fillers, 0.5 wt. % of MWCNT + 0.5 wt. % of HNT, and 1 wt. % of MWCNT + 1 wt. % of HNT, respectively. Examining flexural strength, Izod impact strength, and hardness, the composites indicate that the combination of 1 wt. % MWCNT and 1 wt. % HNT achieves the most pronounced positive hybrid effect, displaying substantial enhancements in flexural strength (684 MPa), impact strength (156.86 KJ/m2), and hardness (54.73 BHN) compared to others. This research underscores the importance of synergistic nanofiller interactions in optimizing glass/carbon fiber hybrid composites for applications in diverse industries.The FESEM images revealed the enhanced fiber-matrix strength, matrix toughness, and resin-fiber adhesion due to a hybrid combination of nanofillers in composite, enhancing the impact properties of the composite via MWCNT pullout/bridging and HNT crack deflection.