Study on the Mechanical and Toughness Behavior of Epoxy Nano-Composites with Zero-Dimensional and Two-Dimensional...

The mechanical properties of epoxy resin can be enhanced by adding nanofillers into its matrix. This study researches and compares the impacts of adding nanofillers with different dimensions, including two-dimensional boron nitride and zero-dimensional silica, on the mechanical and toughness properties of epoxy resin. At low fractions (0-2.0 wt%), 2DBN/epoxy composites have a higher Young's modulus, fracture toughness and critical strain energy release rate compared to SiO₂/epoxy composites. However, the workability deteriorated drastically for BN/epoxy composites above a specific nanofiller concentration (2.0-3.0 wt%). BN prevents crack growth by drawing and bridging. SiO₂ enhances performance by deflecting the crack direction and forming voids. Additionally, the dimension and content of nanofiller also influence glass transition temperature and storage modulus significantly.