Mechanical, tribological, and surface morphological studies on the effects of hybrid ilmenite and silicon dioxide fillers on glass fibre reinforced epoxy composites.

Recently, researchers have been attempting to enhance the mechanical and tribological characteristics of thermosetting epoxy composites by incorporating inorganic nanoparticles and ensuring their uniform distribution throughout the matrix. This study characterises ball-milled ilmenite (FeTiO 3 -size of 63 nm) and silicon dioxide (SiO 2 -size of 67.5 nm) fillers added to epoxy in proportions of 0:0, 2.5:2.5, 5:5, and 7.5:7.5% by weight. A liquid ultrasonic technique is used to blend the fillers with the epoxy, and compression moulding is used to fabricate the composite. Mechanical tests were performed based on ASTM standards. Tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus and elongations at break(tensile and flexural test) of 5:5 wt % are 30.54%, 12.2%, 32.22%, 28.98%,23.78% and 23.53% higher than neat sample respectively. Shore "D" hardness and Izod's impact strength are 4.65% and 98.93% higher at 5:5 wt % than neat sample respectively. Specific wear rate decreased from 2.6 × 10⁻¹¹ m³/Nm (neat GFRP: 0 wt % glass fibre reinforced polymer composite) to 0.7 × 10⁻¹¹ m³/Nm at 5:5 wt % filler. Nanoparticles lowered the coefficient of friction by around 16.66%, 60.42%, and 33.33% at sliding distances of 100 m for 2.5:2.5, 5:5, and 7.5:7.5 wt % respectively with the neat sample. A 5:5 wt percent resulted in 76.68% less wear volume loss than pure GFRP. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analysis revealed element distributions, particle size, pullout of fibers, damaged interfaces, filler dispersion, voids, wear debris, interfacial debonding, and cavities. Thus, this approach enhances GFRP composite's mechanical, tribological, and structural properties. [Display omitted] • Characterization of ball-milled ilmenite (FeTiO3) and silicon dioxide (SiO2) fillers (0:0, 2.5:2.5, 5:5, and 7.5:7.5 wt.%) blended by ultrasonic liquid process and manufactured by compression moulding. • The mechanical tests were conducted according to ASTM standards. At 5:5 wt%, GFRP composites have better tensile strength, modulus, flexural strength, elongations at break, Shore "D" hardness, and Izod's impact strength than pristine samples. • Filler-incorporated, produced composites have lower specific wear rate, coefficient of friction, and wear volume loss at 100 m sliding distance than pure GFRP composites. • Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) reveals the morphology of fractured and worn surfaces in samples. • EDS Mapping predicts the Distribution of Elements in the developed composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]