Al-Khwarizmi

Engineering
Journal
Al-Khwarizmi Engineering Journal,Vol. 12, No. 3, P.P. 72- 79 (2016)

Effect of Nano Powder on Mechanical and Physical Properties of

Glass Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Composite

Aseel Basim Abdul-Hussein* Fadhel Abbas Hashim**

Tamara Raad Kadhim***
*,**,***Department of Materials Engineering/ University of Technology
*Email: dr.material@yahoo.com

(Received 16 April 2015; accepted 12 January 2016)

Abstract
Fiber reinforced polymer composite is an important material for structural application. The diversified application of
FRP composite has taken center of attraction for interdisciplinary research. However, improvements on mechanical
properties of this class of materials are still under research for different applications. In this paper we have modified the
epoxy matrix by Al2O3, SiO2 and TiO2 nano particles in glass fiber/epoxy composite to improve the mechanical and
physical properties. The composites are fabricated by hand lay-up method. It is observed that mechanical properties like
flexural strength, hardness are more in case of SiO2 modified epoxy composite compare to other nano modifiers, were
physical properties like density, water absorption are more in case of TiO2 modified epoxy composite. This may be
because of smaller particle size of silica compare to others.

Key word: Density, Water absorption, Hardness, Flexural Strength, Glass fibers, Composites.

1. Introduction diameter and volume fraction (o.5, 1, 5 and

20%).The results shown that the mechanical
Development of new composite materials or properties like hardness and tensile strength higher
modification of existing composite material is the than net epoxy and increased with increase
real challenge for most of the materials engineers. addition of TiO2 nanoparticles [2].
Epoxy base matrix composite has tremendous Ikram .et. al, have studied mechanical
potential to substitute the traditional metallic properties of micro and nano TiO2/ epoxy
materials. Polymer matrix modification is one of composites, with epoxy volume fraction
the approaches to develop new class of polymer (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,10,15,20) of microparticles TiO2 (50
structural materials. This modification can be done µm) and nanoparticle TiO2 (50nm) the flexural
by addition of different ceramic powders of strength, Young modulus and fracture toughness of
different sizes to achieve the required mechanical nanocomposites were increased at low volume
properties. McGrath et al. (2008) studied the effect fraction (less than 7 vol%). At higher volume
of alumina powder in epoxy on mechanical fraction both flexural strength and fracture
properties. They found that there is a little effect toughness decrease while Young modulus still
on change in particle size, shape and size higher than that of epoxy. The flexural strength
distribution on final properties. However the resin and fracture toughness of epoxy-microcomposites
crosslink density and filler loading were the most decreases with increasing the volume fraction of
critical variable, which may change all properties TiO2 microparticles specially at high volume
[1]. L.Merad.et.al, have study the mechanical fraction while Young modulus increases with
properties of epoxy resin reinforced with TiO2 increasing the volume fraction [3].
nanoparticles. These nanoparticle are 21nm in Dr.Falak O.Abas,Raghad O.Abas and Sarmad I.
 Aseel Basim Abdul-Hussein Al-Khwarizmi Engineering Journal, Vol. 12, No. 3, P.P. 72- 79(2016)

Ibrahim have studied the properties and behavior 15) minutes to obtain homogeneity. A rise in the
of particles on (glass, carbon, and Kevlar fiber) temperature of the mixture will result as an
reinforced polyester composites. The effect of indication to the beginning of the interaction
alumina (Al2O3) and silicon carbide (SiC) particles process. It is very important that the mixture must
ceramic polyester composites are investigated at have a good viscosity for the purpose of protecting
different additive ratios as (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0%) the particles from precipitation which may result in
volume fraction. Comparative analysis show that the heterogeneity of the mixture that leads to the
the bending distortion, hardness, and impact agglomeration after hardening. Pouring the
resistance are affected by the type and content of mixture into the mould, then putting the glass
filler particles, where both impact and Hardness is fiber mat into the mould and continuing of mixture
increased with increasing volume fraction specially pouring until it covers the entire mat. Pressing the
in case of (0.5%) volume fraction for both filler mixture with an appropriate load. For the purpose
particles and decreased for bending distortion of completing the process of hardening, finally is
specially in case of glass fiber/ polyester at (0.5%) leaving the sample in the mould for a period of
volume fraction for both filler particles [4]. (24) hour at room temperature. Samples are then
Ramish k.et.al, have study the effect of epoxy extracted from the mould and then heat treated in
modifiers (Al2O3, SiO2, TiO2) on mechanical an oven at (60Ċ) for a period of (60) minutes [6].
performance of epoxy/glass fiber hybrid This process is very important for the purpose of
composite. The results shown that mechanical obtaining the best cross linking between polymeric
properties like flexural strength, and flexural chains, and to remove the stresses generated from
modulus are more in case of SiO2 modified epoxy the preparation process and complete the full
composite compare to other micro modifier. This hardening of the samples. Fig. 1 shows the shape
is may be because of smaller particle size of silica of the prepared mould.
compare to other. Alumina modified epoxy
composite increase the hardness and impact energy Table 1,
compare to other modifiers [5]. Designation and composition of composites

Designation of
Composition
2. Experimental Procedure composites
Epoxy + 3% G.F + 2, 4 and 6 %
A
2.1. Materials Al2O3
Epoxy + 3 % G.F +2, 4 and 6%
In our study, commercially available Al2O3 (45 S
SiO2
nm), SiO2 (38 nm), TiO2 (47 nm) particles are used
T Epoxy+ 3% G.F+2, 4 and 6%TiO2
to modify the epoxy matrix. Nano fillers of Al2O3,
SiO2 and TiO2 were purchased from nano Shell
Company. Commercially available woven roving
fabric E-glass fiber from the Tenax Company,
England. The epoxy which is used was Euxit (50)
base as the matrix from the (Al-Rakaez Building
Materials) made in Egypt in the form of
transparent viscous liquid at room temperature
which is a thermally hardened polymers
(Thermosets) with a density of (1.05 gm / cm3)

2.2 Fabrication of Hybrid FRP Composite

Fig. 1. The shape of the prepared mould.
There are three types of hybrid FRP composite
with different fillers are fabricated using hand lay-
up method. The volume percentage of epoxy, fiber, 3. Results and Discussion
filler and hardener are fixed and designations of
the composites are reported in Table -1. Where A, 3.1. XRD of Powder
S and T indicate Al2O3, SiO2 and TiO2 modified
FRP composite. Adding the powder intermittently The X-ray powder diffraction patterns are
into the mixture and stirring it for a period of (10- shown in Fig. (2).For three materials, all major

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 Aseel Basim Abdul-Hussein Al-Khwarizmi Engineering Journal, Vol. 12, No. 3, P.P. 72- 79(2016)

peaks were assigned to the crystalline structure. Table 2,

Al2O3 was hexagonal structure, SiO2 was cubic Hardness of Prepared Composites.
structure, and TiO2 was tetragonal structure. Types of composites hardness shore D
Ep 77
Al2O3 Ep +3% G.F 78
Ep + 3%G.F+2% SiO2 81.5
Ep + 3%G.F+4% SiO2 83.7
Ep + 3%G.F+6% SiO2 84.8
Ep + 3%G.F+2% Al2O3 81.2
Ep + 3%G.F+4% Al2O3 83.2
Ep + 3%G.F+6% Al2O3 84.3
Ep + 3%G.F+2% TiO2 80.5
Ep + 3%G.F+4% TiO2 82.7
Ep + 3%G.F+6% TiO2 83.9

From fig. (3) it is clear that there is a

pronounced effect of the addition of 3% glass
SiO2 fiber volume fraction percents on the hardness of
the material. This may be due to the fact that the
hardness is generally considered to be a property
of the surface therefore this behavior of hardness
is expected. And can be seen from figure a
pronounced effect of the addition of 3% glass
fiber with 2%, 4%and 6% volume fraction from
(nano powder) percents on the hardness of the
material. It can be seen that the hardness
increases with increasing volume fraction.
Adding the filler particles will raise the materials
hardness due to increasing in material resistance
against the plastic deformation. Result had
revealed that the hardness of pure epoxy alone
TiO2 was (77 shore D) compared to maximum value
(84) at volume fraction of (6% SiO2) with
particle size is (38nm). The reason of the increase
in hardness is that SiO2 contains an elements
harder than the pure epoxy that lead to an
increase in hardness. These results become match
with our work because the SiO2 have larger
surface area and smaller particle size than
(Al2O3and TiO2).
Fig. 2. The XED of nano powder.

3.2. Hardness (shore D)

This test is performed by using hardness

(Shore D) and according to (ASTM DI-2240)
standard at room temperature. Samples have been
cut into a diameter of (40mm) and a thickness of
(5mm) [7]. Table (2) shows the values of
hardness for the prepared (Pure Epoxy, Epoxy
+3% glass fiber and nano) composites.
Fig. 3.hardness of papered composite.

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 Aseel Basim Abdul-Hussein Al-Khwarizmi Engineering Journal, Vol. 12, No. 3, P.P. 72- 79(2016)

3.3. Flexural Strength Fle xt ur al St r enght

This test is performed according to (ASTM

Flextural Strenght (MPa)

400
330
D790) at room temperature. Samples have been 260
190
cut into the dimensions (80*3.2*2.5) mm [8]. The 120
flexural strength are calculated according to the
equations [9]

… (1)
Where
F.S flexural strength (MPa).
Type of Composite
p force at fracture (N).
L length of the sample (mm).
b thickness (mm). Fig. 4. Flextural strength of papered composite.
d width (mm).

Table (3) shows the values of flexural strength 3.4. True Density
for all prepared composites.
This test is performed according to (ASTM
Table 3, D792) standard at the room temperature [9].The
Flexural strength of prepared composites. samples were cut into a diameter of 40 mm and a
Types of composites Flexural strength thickness of 5 mm the measured density (ρt) is
Ep 149 calculated from the method of immersion in water
Ep +3% G.F 158 using the following relationship [10].
Ep + 3%G.F+2% SiO2 325 ρt= (Wd /Ws-Wn)*D … (2)
Ep + 3%G.F+4% SiO2 349 Where:
Ep + 3% G.F+6% SiO2 375 Ρt Measured density or bulk density (gm/cm3).
Ep + 3%G.F+2% Al2O3 310 D Density of distilled water (1 gm/cm3).
Ep + 3%G.F+4% Al2O3 342 Wd dry weight of sample (gm).
Ep + 3%G.F+6% Al2O3 362 Wn weight of the sample, a commentator and
Ep + 3%G.F+2% TiO2 290
submerged with water (gm).
Ep + 3%G.F+4% TiO2 337
Ep + 3%G.F+6% TiO2 355
Ws weight of the sample is saturated with water
(gm).
Table (4) shows the values of density for the
Fig.4.shows flexural strength of all prepared prepared composites.
composites. It can be noted from this figure that
the addition of 3% glass fiber with 2%, 4% and Table 4,
6% volume fraction from nano powder has a Density of prepared composites.
significant effect on the flexural strength of the Types of composites True density
composite material. And, the flexural strength Ep 1.05
increases with increasing volume fraction and Ep +3% G.F 1.080
decreasing of the particle size. The flexural Ep + 3%G.F+2% SiO2 1.122
strength of pure epoxy reference was (149 MPa), Ep + 3%G.F+4% SiO2 1.155
and then an increasing was observed with Ep + 3% G.F+6% SiO2 1.185
increasing in volume fraction till it reached to its Ep + 3%G.F+2% Al2O3 1.130
maximum value of (375 MPa) by the addition of Ep + 3%G.F+4% Al2O3 1.165
Ep + 3%G.F+6% Al2O3 1.197
(3% glass fiber) and volume fraction of (6%
Ep + 3%G.F+2% TiO2 1.140
SiO2) with particle size is (38nm) which is Ep + 3%G.F+4% TiO2 1.178
(151%) higher than epoxy alone. These results Ep + 3%G.F+6% TiO2 1.215
match with the present because the SiO2 has
particle size smaller than (Al2O3 and TiO2), this Fig.5 show the true density for prepared
can be attributed to ductility of SiO2 which is composites. In Fig. 5 can be seen the higher true
reducing the brittleness of composite. density has been found to be for the specimen
(epoxy +3%G.F+6%TiO2) due the TiO2 powder
have density higher than individual density when

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 Aseel Basim Abdul-Hussein Al-Khwarizmi Engineering Journal, Vol. 12, No. 3, P.P. 72- 79(2016)

compared with composite (Al2O3 and SiO2) Table 5,

nano Powder. Where the density of TiO2 (4.25 water absorption of prepared composites.
gm/cm3), Al2O3 (4.05 gm/cm3) and SiO2 (2.7 Types of composites water absorption
gm/cm3) .When comparing the value of true Ep 0.120
density nano composite with measured density of Ep +3% G.F 0.195
(pure Epoxy) can be seen higher than because the Ep + 3%G.F+2% SiO2 0.215
additions of reinforcement (TiO2, Al2O3, SiO2) Ep + 3%G.F+4% SiO2 0.313
nano powder that have higher density than matrix Ep + 3% G.F+6% SiO2 0.364
(pure epoxy).where density of pure epoxy (1.05 Ep + 3%G.F+2% Al2O3 0.240
gm/cm3). Ep + 3%G.F+4% Al2O3 0.325
Ep + 3%G.F+6% Al2O3 0.378
Ep + 3%G.F+2% TiO2 0.275
Ep + 3%G.F+4% TiO2 0.340
Ep + 3%G.F+6% TiO2 0.385

In Fig. 6 shows the water absorption of all

prepared composites can be seen the specimen
(epoxy +3%G.F) have higher water absorption
than specimen (pure epoxy), the increasing water
absorption percentage with increasing volume
fraction of fiber depends on the rule of mixture
theory where fiber have a higher water absorption
Fig. 5. True density of papered composite. percentage than specimen pure epoxy [14]. The
water absorption attacked the fiber-matrix
interface, causing de-bonding of the fiber and the
3.5. Water absorption matrix. The failures of the composite materials
were due to voids [15]. And nano composites
This test is performed according to (ASTM D
given higher water absorption percentage than
570) standard at room temperature [11]. Samples
specimen pure epoxy and specimen (epoxy
have been cut into a diameter of (40mm) and a +3%glass fiber) composites. the higher water
thickness of (5mm). The mechanism of water
absorption percentage of nano composite has been
absorption is explained to be the direct uptake
found to specimen (epoxy +3%G.F+6%TiO2)
and flow of water by capillary and transport along while the specimen (epoxy + 3%G.F+6% SiO2)
the reinforcement-matrix interface [12]. Water
have lower than specimen of (Al2O3 and TiO2) at
absorption percentage is calculated using
the volume fraction (3%) of glass fiber and (6% )
(Archimedes base) according the following
volume fraction of filler particles ( nano powder ),
formula [13].
and the specimens (epoxy +3%G.F+2% TiO2),
(epoxy +3%G.F+4% TiO2)have higher water
… (3)
absorption percentage while the specimen (epoxy
Where
+ 3%G.F+2% SiO2), (epoxy + 3%G.F+4% SiO2)
M (%) water absorption percentage.
have lower than specimen of (Al2O3 and TiO2) at
mo mass of specimen before
the volume fraction (3% ) of glass fiber and
immersion (g).
(2%,4%) volume fraction of filler particles (nano
mt: mass of specimen after immersion
powder ).In this work the specimens of composite
for seven days (g).
material filled with larger particles show a higher
Table (5) shows the values of water absorption for
water absorption percentage when compared with
the prepared composites.
the specimens of composite material filled with
small particles because the saturation level of
fillers matrix composition influenced by
agglomeration that will affect the water
absorption percentage of the composite material.
The mean particle size of the (SiO2) is (38nm)
while mean particle size of the (Al2O3) is (45
nm) and mean particle size of the (TiO2) is
(48nm).

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 Aseel Basim Abdul-Hussein Al-Khwarizmi Engineering Journal, Vol. 12, No. 3, P.P. 72- 79(2016)

No. 3, PP.205-209.
Absorption [3] Ikram A. Al-Ajaj, Muhannad M. Abd and
Harith I. Jaffer,"Mechanical Properties of
0.5 Micro and Nano TiO2/Epoxy Composites",
Water Absorption (%)

international Journal of Mining &

0 Mechanical Engineering, (2013), No. 2,
Vol.1, PP.2320-4060.
[4] Dr.Falak O.Abas,Raghad O.Abas and
Sarmad I. I brahim , " A Comparison study
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and Thermal Properties of Glass, Carbon,
Kevlar / Polyester composites", Eng. &
Type of Composite
Tech. Journal, (2010), No. 12, Vol. 28, PP.
2469.
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SiO2, TiO2) on mechanical performance of
3. Conclusion epoxy/glass fiber hybrid composites",
ELSEVIER
Journal(2014),Vol.6,PP.13591364,6
Non –reinforced pure Epoxy has lower physical
(doi:10.1016/j.mspro.2014.07.115).
and mechanical properties than (epoxy+3%glass
[6] Felix K., Sylvester A. and Edmund
fiber) composites and nano composites. The values
A.,"Storage and handling techniques of
of measured density are lower than nano composite
maize and groundnut", SENRA Academic
with 3% glass fiber and 6% nano powder have the
Publishers, Burnaby, British Columbia,
higher density when compared with other
No.3, Vol.6, PP.2122, (2012).
composites. Nano composite with (epoxy +3%
[7] Annual Book of ASTM Standard "Standard
glass fiber +6%TiO2) has the maximum density of
Test Method for Plastics Properties-
(1.215) (gm/cm3) when compared with other
Durometer Hardness D 2240", Vol. 09.01,
composites. The values of water absorption of
(1988).
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[8] Annual Book of ASTM Standard, "Standard
(epoxy +3% glass fibers). Nano composite with
Test Methods for Flexural Properties of
3% glass fiber and 6% nano powder have the
Unreinforced and Reinforced Plastics ", D
higher water absorption when compared with
790- 86, Vol. 10.01, (1986).
specimen (pure epoxy) and specimen (epoxy +3%
[9] M. A. Meyers & K. K. Chawla," Mechanical
glass fibers) composites. Nano composite with
behavior of materials", Prentice Hall, Inc.,
(epoxy +3% glass fibers +6%TiO2) has the
USA, (1999), PP. 644.
maximum water absorption of (0.385%) Result
[10] Annual Book of ASTM Standard, "Density
shows that the best hardness value was (84.8 shore
and Specific Gravity (Relative Density) of
D), Flexural strength (375MPa) at volume fraction
Plastics by Displacement1".
of (3%glass fiber) with (6% SiO2).
[11] Annual Book of ASTM Standard, "Standard
Test Method for Water Absorption of Plastics
D 570- 98", Vol. 08.01, (2005).
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composites, Polymer 49, 999-1014. [13] M.H.A Ghani & S. Ahmad, "The Comparison
[2] L.Merad, B. Benyoucef,M.J.M abadie, J.P of Water Absorption Analysis between
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[14] D. Chandramohan, and J. Bharanichandar " [15] Waffaa Abed Alkazem Zkaer "
Narural Fibre Reinforced Polymer Determination of Some Mechanical Properties
Composites for Automobile Accessories ", of Unsaturated Polyester Reinforced with
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(doi:10.3844/ajessp.2013.494.504). ,No.16,Vol.29,pp.3313-3319

78
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‫ل "وع ن ا واد ا را ا " "و ‪ .‬اظ رت ا " ! ان‬ ‫‪5 0‬ف ‪4‬ن ‪3‬‬ ‫ا " وم ‪ .( TiO2‬ص ا ‪8‬ده و و ا " " ء وا ‪ 6‬وا‬
‫ن ا " ! اظ رت ن ا ‪ 6‬زاد ? ز د ا ر ا '‬ ‫> ر ا وى ‪0‬ك واص ا‪3‬ل ن ا واد ا را ‪"4 .‬د ا'راء ا رات ا ‪6‬‬ ‫ا و‬
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