Enhancing mechanical properties of an epoxy resin using “liquid nano-reinforcements”

“Liquid nano-reinforcements” and hybrids of nanofillers with different size were introduced in this study to simultaneously improve the reinforcement and toughening of an epoxy resin. The flexural strength and breaking strain of the epoxy composites with 0.3 wt% reactive carbon nanofibers (CNFs) and 0.2 wt% carbon nanotubes (CNTs) increased by 45% and 64%, respectively, exceeding that of the epoxy nanocomposites singly reinforced by the same (0.5 wt%) content of CNFs. The fracture surface of the hybrid nanocomposites indicated the high and broad resistance to fracture. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed there was an obvious increase in storage modulus and glass transition temperature for the hybrid nanocomposites compared to that of the neat epoxy resin.