Mechanical, microstructural, and dynamic mechanical properties of electrospun short nanofiber reinforced epoxy composites

Abstract

Electrospun nanofibers are emerging reinforcing fillers with epoxy matrix owing to its high aspect ratio, surface area, and mechanical properties resulting in wider applications. Application of non-woven configuration of nanofiber mats, collected from electrospinning has been traditionally confined to improve interlaminar responses of fiber reinforced composites. However, potential of short nanofiber in improving bulk matrix properties cannot be under estimated. This study adopts matrix modification approach by incorporating different concentration of nylon 6 short nanofiber in epoxy matrix to investigate its influence on tensile and viscoelastic properties of nanocomposite. Results showed a moderate improvement in modulus for nanocomposites despite to general drop in strength, however fracture energy and failure strain improved significantly at an optimum concentration of 0.1 wt% nanofiber. In addition, highest storage modulus as well as damping factor was recorded with decline in glass transition temperature for 0.1 wt% nanofiber content. Moreover, it was revealed that addition of nanofiber altered brittle fracture to neck-featured ductile mode and effectively introduced energy absorbing interfaces making it well suit for diverse applications.