Author

Applied Sciences Department University of Technology, Baghdad, Iraq.

Abstract

The aim of this work was to evaluate some mechanical and physical
properties of a composite material which consists of (epoxy/styrene-butadiene
rubber) blend as a matrix, reinforced with copper oxide (CuO) with a weight
fraction 3%, and the composite material was manufactured by hand lay-up.
The optimum mixing ratio was (75:25) % of epoxy and (SBR) was chosen to
accomplish the work due to its highest impact strength (2.1KJ/m2). The tests
that were performed on the material were: tensile test, impact test, thermal
conductivity test, and the absorption test, in addition to the microscopic
imaging using scanning electron microscope (SEM), to determine the surface
morphology of the specimens. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and hydrochloric
acid (HCl), both (0.1) normal concentration solutions, were used for the
immersion. The results showed that CuO nanofiller improved tensile and
impact properties of the blend, besides increasing resistance to diffusion of
chemicals into the material. The results showed that the immersion in HCl
solution increased the impact strength of the composite from (2.27KJ/m2) to
(3.38KJ/m2), and also increased the tensile strength from (9.2MPa) to (9.8
MPa), while immersion in NaOH solution decreased the tensile strength to
(7.3MPa), but increased the impact strength to (2.42KJ/m2). Thermal
conductivity was (0.21W/m.°C) before immersion in solutions, but changed to
(0.27W/m.°C) and (0.24W/m.°C) after immersion in HCl and NaOH
respectively. The weight gain after immersion in NaOH was higher than weight
gain after immersion in HCl.

Keywords

Main Subjects