Effect of Water on Some Mechanical Properties of Epoxy Blends Reinforced With Different Weight Fractions of Nano Titanium Oxide and Nano Silica

Abstract

Polymer composites were prepared using epoxy resin (EP) and unsaturated polyester (UPE) as a blend matrices, which were mixed together in different percentages (starting from 90:10) of (epoxy/polyester) respectively, and ending with (50:50) of (epoxy/polyester). The optimum mixing ratio (OMR) of the components was decided upon the results of the impact strength value of these blending ratio, which showed the highest value of (16.3) KJ/m2 for the blending ratio (80:20) of (EP/UPE) respectively.
The blend with (OMR) was chosen to be reinforced with three different weight fractions of reinforcement; the 1st one was reinforced with nano titanium oxide (TiO2) with a weight fraction (2% wt.), the 2nd one was reinforced with both nano (TiO2) and surface modified nano silica particles (SiO2) with weight fractions (2% & 0.5%) respectively, and the 3rd one was reinforced with nano (TiO2) and surface modified (SiO2) with weight fractions (2% & 1%) respectively. The tested mechanical properties were (flexural strength, impact strength, hardness, and water uptake).
Hand lay-up technique was used to prepare the samples, and a magnetic stirrer was used to ensure maximum homogeneity of the nano particles in the blend. All fabricated samples were exposed to water for 10 weeks to investigate the effect of nano powders addition on diffusivity and maximum water uptake, obvious degradation in mechanical properties of the composite consisting of (blend matrix/TiO2 reinforcement) and (blend matrix/TiO2+SiO2 reinforcement) were observed as a result of liquid uptake with less severe impact, but more effect on flexural strength and shore D hardness. Fick’s 2nd law was used to explain diffusion mechanism. All the results were discussed.