Effect of nanoparticles dispersion on viscoelastic properties of epoxy-zirconia polymer nanocomposites

Abstract

In the present work zirconia-nanoparticles were dispersed in epoxy matrix to form epoxy-zirconia polymer nanocomposites using ultrasonication and viscoelastic properties of nanocomposites were investigated. For the same spherical zirconia-nanoparticles (45 nm) were dispersed in weight fraction of 2, 4, 6 and 8 % to reinforce the epoxy. DMA results show the significant enhancement in viscoelastic properties with the dispersion of zirconia nanoparticles in the epoxy matrix. The value of storage modulus and glass transition temperature increases from 179 MPa (pristine) to 225 MPa (6 wt.% ZrO2) and 61 °C (pristine) to 70 °C (6 wt.% ZrO2) respectively with the dispersion of zirconia nanoparticles in the epoxy.