Preparation and Characterization of Epoxy/Alumina Nanocomposites.

Nano-alumina (Al₂O₃, 30 nm) particles were employed to reinforce and toughen epoxy resin. The effects of Al₂O₃ nanoparticles on the mechanical properties of the composites were investigated by tensile and impact tests. It shows that the mechanical properties of epoxy nanocomposites have been improved significantly. For the prepared nanocomposite with 3.0 wt.% of Al₂O₃ addition, the tensile strength, elongation at break and impact strength reached 74.83 MPa, 10.63% and 13.79 kJ/m², and were improved by 82.60%, 33.38% and 63.58%, respectively, compared with those of pure epoxy resin. The epoxy/Al₂O₃ nanocomposites also show good dielectric properties and excellent thermal stability under nitrogen atmosphere. Investigation of fractured surface of the obtained nanocomposites was carried out to study the dispersion of nanoarchitectonics Al₂O₃ with scanning electron microscopy.