Water absorption behavior, mechanical and thermal properties of nano TiO2 enhanced glass fiber reinforced polymer composites

Nano TiO2 particle is one of the promising inorganic nano fillers used in polymer matrix composites to enhance the mechanical properties. However, reliability of this type of nano composites is yet to be ensured in hydrothermal environment. The present work investigates the addition of nano TiO2 filler on water sorption, residual strength and thermal properties of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites. The results revealed that addition of 0.1 wt% TiO2 has reduced water diffusion coefficient by 9%, improved residual flexural strength by 19% and residual interlaminar shear strength by 18% among all the nano TiO2 modified composites. The improvement of mechanical properties in hydrothermal environment creates opportunity and reliability to be used in different engineering applications. Weibull design parameters are evaluated and found a good agreement between Weibull stress-strain curves and experimental one. Fractographic analysis confirmed the various failures and strengthening mechanisms of nano composites in dry and hydrothermal environment. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.