Effect of PA66 nanofiber yarn on tensile fracture toughness of reinforced epoxy nanocomposite

Epoxy resin as a thermoset polymer is frequently used in engineering applications. Its nature as a thermoset resin results in brittleness of material structure, which ultimately leads to low toughness; so its modification with thermoplastic polymers is of prime interest. This work aims at studying of tensile properties and morphological characterization of Polyamide 66 (PA66) nanofiber yarn reinforced epoxy nanocomposite. Decrease in elastic modulus and enhancement in tensile toughness were achieved by increasing the nanofiber yarn contents. River pattern, crack branching, and nanofiber yarn pull-out were various toughening mechanisms confirmed via scanning electron microscopic images.