Performance Augmentation of Epoxy Adhesives with TiN Nanoparticles

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Mechanical Engineering

Background:

• Epoxy resins are widely used adhesives but often require reinforcement to improve mechanical performance.
• Nanoparticles offer a promising route to enhance composite properties due to their high surface area and unique characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of titanium nitride nanoparticles (NPs) on the properties of epoxy-based nanocomposites.
• To evaluate the performance of these nanocomposites as nanoadhesives in lap shear joints.
• To correlate property enhancements with NP content and distribution.

Main Methods:

• Titanium nitride nanoparticles (50-70 nm) were incorporated into epoxy at varying concentrations (0-4 wt %).
• Nanocomposite films were cast, and lap shear strength joints were prepared using stainless-steel coupons via compression molding.
• Characterization included physical properties, thermal stability, friction, scratch hardness, and lap shear strength testing.
• Failure analysis was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to examine fracture surfaces and NP distribution.

Main Results:

• Incorporating titanium nitride NPs into epoxy led to a near-linear improvement in selected performance properties.
• The highest lap shear strength improvement was 70% with 4 wt % NPs.
• Increased NP content correlated with enhanced hardness of the nanocomposite films.

Conclusions:

• Titanium nitride nanoparticles effectively enhance the mechanical and physical properties of epoxy-based nanocomposites.
• These nanocomposites show significant potential as high-strength nanoadhesives.
• The study demonstrates a clear correlation between NP loading, hardness, and lap shear strength.