The effect of alumina nanoparticles addition on the mechanical properties of glass fiber reinforced epoxy composites

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mechanical properties of glass fiber/nano alumina reinforced epoxy composites and to investigate the effect of different contents of alumina nanoparticles of 0.5, 1 and 1.5 phr addition on this composite. Tensile and bending tests and SEM have been used for this evaluation. Results show that the transverse tensile strength of UD glass fiber epoxy composite increased from 43.9 to 64 MPa by adding 0.5 phr nanoalumina particles and tensile strain at break was increased for 93%. Flexural strength and modulus of satin glass fiber epoxy composite are significantly improved by adding nano-alumina particles and the optimum amount of this nano particle was 0.5 phr. Much better improvement in flexural in comparison with tensile properties was achieved.