Effect of Sol-Gel Derived TiO2-SiO2 Binary Nanoparticles on Thermomechanical Property of Polymer Matrix Composite

This study investigated the effect of adding 5%wt of SiO2-TiO2 nanoparticles to polyester-fiberglass on the structural, mechanical and thermal behaviors of the nanocomposite. For this purpose, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to examine the surface modification and morphology of the nanocomposites. After the heat treatment of this material at different compositions, it was observed that its crystalline state was changed and a rutile structure appeared in the treated nanofillers. However, the presence of SiO2 seemed to prevent the complete conversion to this structure. Hence, this change in the microstate affected the mechanical behavior of the nanocomposite. Indeed, the addition of 5% wt divided in 75% SiO2 and 25%TiO2 to the nanocomposite increased its Young's modulus by 15.15% and its microhardness by 14%. Furthermore, in terms of thermal behavior, the addition of 5% wt divided in 75% SiO2 and 25% TiO2 yielded a thermal resistance of TG = 49.66 degrees C. These results would imply the production of nanocomposite with a specific high resistance, a high modulus and a good fatigue resistance which would present a potential replacement for other materials in various industrial applications.

Automated summary

This study examined the impact of adding 5wt% of SiO2-TiO2 nanoparticles to polyester-fiberglass on the nanocomposite's structural, mechanical, and thermal behaviors. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to analyze the surface modification and morphology of the nanocomposites. The addition of SiO2-TiO2 nanoparticles altered the crystalline state and microstructure, resulting in improved mechanical properties and thermal resistance of the nanocomposite.