Experimental Analysis on the Effect of Surface Treatment of Glass Fibers & Nanoclay on Mechanical Properties of Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer Nanocomposites

Abstract

The objective of this study is to analyze the effect of surface treatment on mechanical properties of Glass Fiber reinforced epoxy nanoclay nanocomposites which was manufactured using nanoclay, Nanomer 1.28E content with a fixed percentage of 3 wt. % by compression molding. Nine different samples were made with different possible combinations to compare the effect of surface treatment of glass fibers (Untreated/Silane and Acid Treated) and nanoclay (Untreated and trimethyl stearyl ammonium modified). Tensile, Impact, Flexural and Hardness tests had been done to evaluate the mechanical performance of the composites. The fine morphological modifications made on the surface of the glass fiber and nanoclay enhanced the interfacial bonding between the epoxy resin and reinforcement which in turn improved the tensile, flexural and impact properties by improvement in hardness too. The mechanical properties such as flexural strength and impact strength has slightly decreased in the composite made of Epoxy, Silane treated Glass fiber and surface modified nanoclay but instead there is an increase in tensile strength and hardness which in turn will improve the wear properties when compared to neat composite.