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ORIGINAL PAPER

Physico-Mechanical Properties of Nano Silica-Filled Epoxy-Based Mono and Hybrid Composites for Structural Applications B. Suresha 1

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G. S. Divya 1,2

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G. Hemanth 3

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H. M. Somashekar 4

Received: 31 July 2020 / Accepted: 27 October 2020 # Springer Nature B.V. 2020

Abstract This research article describes the results of nano-silica (nSiO2) filled epoxy (Ep) mono composites with different contents (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 3, and 5 wt.%) and carbon fabric-reinforced epoxy (CFE) with 1.5 and 3 wt.% of nSiO2 hybrid composites and their physical and mechanical properties characterized by different techniques as per ASTM standards. Mechanical mixing and sonication techniques were followed to disperse nSiO2 into Ep resin. Furthermore, the same nSiO2/Ep is reinforced with carbon fabric by hand lay-up followed by vacuum-bagging technique. The morphological features were studied by scanning electron microscopy. The properties of the Ep based mono and hybrid composites showed that the hardness, tensile strength/modulus, and flexural strength/modulus, as well as impact strength of the composites enhanced with nSiO2 wt.% up to 3 wt.% for mono and hybrid composites and decreased thereafter; suggesting that the beneficial properties ensued up to 3 wt.% nSiO2 content. Keywords Nano silica . Mono and hybrid composites . Vacuum bagging technique . Mechanical properties . Fracture morphology

1 Introduction The composites materials are the heterogeneous material that has gained acceleration in development, testing, and application of composites for various engineering applications like structural, aeronautical, automotive, tribological, thermally conductive, electrical insulations, packaging and so on [1–3]. Out of these applications, all of them have a unique requirement that cannot be met by the conventional metallic and alloyed components. Hence, the composites are introduced to modify the materials for the specific requirements without changing their base functionalities. The heterogeneous mixture of the composites allows the materials to contribute individually to the overall performance

* B. Suresha [email protected] 1

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Centre for Composite Materials Research, National Institute of Engineering, Mysuru, India

2

Department of Automobile Engineering, Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering, Bengaluru, India

3

EAI-4 Department, Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions Pvt Ltd, Bengaluru, India

4

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dr. Ambedkar Institute of Technology, Bengaluru, India

of the materials. The composites are classified into three types based on the host materials; they are, metal matrix, ceramic matrix, and polymer matrix composites. The polymer matrix is further classified into the thermoplastic and thermoset plastic matrices. Thermoset polymers are more advantageous upon comparing with thermoplastics. The positive aspects of thermoset resins are ease of fabrication, faster curing, chemical retardant, flame retardant, holds the structural integrity e