The effect of nano-MgO and nano-Fe2O3 on epoxy composite properties

Abstract The chemical precipitation method was used to produce nanoparticles of nano magnesium oxide and nano iron oxide. After preparing the powders, they were reinforced with epoxy polymer at specific weight ratios of each material (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 wt.%). The mold for casting the nanomaterial-reinforced polymer was prepared individually in the presence of the epoxy hardener. After leaving the castings for two weeks, they were cut according to the specifications for each required test. X-ray diffraction (XRD) examination revealed that the epoxy was in an amorphous form, while the nanopowders were crystalline. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed the exact structure, peaks and valleys, and all the basic testing parameters for the raw materials and post-casting for all composites. Some mechanical properties were also tested, including impact resistance, which was 5.21 kJ/m 2 for pure epoxy, increasing to 13.12 kJ/m 2 at 10 wt.% MgO and 10.32 kJ/m 2 at 10 wt.% Fe 2 O 3 . A bending test was also performed for both powder reinforcements, and the bending load for MgO was found to be 205 g with a 1 mm deflection at 10 wt.%. With the same result, the load for Fe 2 O 3 was 202 g with the same deflection compared to epoxy, which reached 139 g. Thermal conductivity was also calculated, which achieved the best increase at a reinforcement ratio of 10 wt.% for both reinforcements, reaching 0.75 W/mK for MgO after mixing, and 0.51 W/m.K for Fe 2 O 3 .