Evaluation of mechanical, morphological, and dynamic mechanical properties on basalt/E-glass fiber/epoxy modified with MWCNTs + SiO₂ hybrid nanocomposites

Recently, there has been an increasing demand for the utilization of hybrid basalt/glass fiber epoxy composites with nanofillers in various structural applications. These materials have become increasingly popular because of their outstanding qualities, such as their impressive strength-to-weight ratio, improved stiffness, resistance to corrosion and chemicals, and environmentally friendly properties. This study aims to examine the morphological, mechanical, and dynamic mechanical performances of basalt/E-glass fiber-reinforced epoxy infused with equal proportions of Multiwalled Carbon Nano Tubes (MWCNTs) and Silicon dioxide (SiO₂) nanoparticles at varying weight percentages (0, 1, 2, and 3) according to ASTM standards. The composite laminates were fabricated using a manual lay-up method and compression molding. A novel stacking sequence of fibers 0₁^B/0₂^G/0₂^B/0₂^G/0₂^B/0₂^G/0₁^B, comprising 12 layers, was employed. The tensile strength, tensile modulus, Inter-Laminar Shear Strength (ILSS), and glass transition temperature (T_g) of BG3 (2%) composite specimen were increased from 247 to 308 MPa, 19.89GPa to 24.60GPa, 23.8 MPa to 40 MPa, and 73⁰C to 90⁰C respectively. The results demonstrate notable enhancements in tensile strength, tensile modulus, ILSS, and Tg of 2wt. % MWCNTs + SiO₂ filled BG3 (2%) composite compared to the unfilled composite by 20%, 20%, 41%, and 18%, respectively. The addition of MWCNTs + SiO₂ nanofillers in composites resulted in a significant enhancement of mechanical and dynamic mechanical performances compared to the unfilled composite. It is concluded that the addition of a minimal amount of MWCNTs and SiO2 to the matrix results in significantly improved performance compared to the unfilled composite.

The Scanning Electron Microscopy images provide clear evidence of the primary failure mechanisms in composites, including debonding, matrix cracks, fiber pull-outs, and fiber fracture.