Enhanced mechanical properties of epoxy and furfuryl amine functionalized silica nanocomposites

In this work, the effect of epoxy and furfuryl amine functionalization of silica-nanoparticles on the mechanical behaviour such as tensile and flexural properties of the anhydride epoxy nanocomposites have been investigated. The sol-gel technique has been used to synthesize silica nanoparticles, followed by grafting with Epichlorohydrin (EPR) and Furfuryl amine (FA). The effect of filler loading in the epoxy nanocomposites was also studied by changing the weight percentage to 0.5, 1, and 2%. FTIR, FESEM, and TGA analyses were performed to confirm the molecular architecture, surface morphology, and thermal degradation behaviour of the functionalized nanoparticles. Tensile and flexural tests were performed to study the mechanical behaviour of the epoxy nanocomposites. The mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were found to be significantly enhanced for all the variations of nanocomposites at a filler loading of 0.5 wt.%. The maximum tensile strength and strain were improved by ∼67% and ∼71%, respectively, in the case of the control sample at 0.5 wt.% of FA functionalized nanofiller. Flexural strength, strain, and work of fracture have been enhanced by ∼81%, ∼34%, and ∼82%, respectively with respect to control sample. These improvements are related to the better interfacial adhesion between functionalized nanofiller and epoxy matrix through the covalent reaction of furfuryl amine and anhydride functional groups of the matrix system. Thus, FA functionalized silica nanoparticles have the potential to use as an admirable, cost-effective incorporation for epoxy to counter the brittle failure of the epoxy matrix.