Effect of ZrO2 Nanofiller on the Physical Properties of Epoxy Composites: Mechanical, Thermal and Dielectric

In this present work, Zirconia nanoparticles were prepared by precipitation method, Zirconium Oxychloride (ZrOCl2.8H2O) and ammonia (NH3) as starting materials. The synthesized Zirconia nanoparticles were characterized by XRD and the grain size in nanoscale was confirmed. The sheets of neat epoxy resin and epoxy with addition of ZrO2 nanoparticles are primed by solution casting method. The structures of epoxy polymer and hardener were found out using FTIR analysis. The thermal properties were analyzed using Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA). Thermo gravimetric analysis has been employed to investigate the thermal characteristics and their mode of thermal degradation. Differential thermal analysis has been used to determine the glass transition temperature of epoxy nanocomposites. The mechanical properties like tensile and flexural studies were analyzed and thus influences of nanofiller loading on these parameters were found to be very low. Keywords: Epoxy, ZrO2 nanoparticles, Nanocomposites, Thermal stability, Dielectric properties, Tensile strength, Flexural strength.