Production and properties of epoxy matrix composite reinforced with hollow silica nanospheres (HSN): mechanical, thermal insulation, and sound insulation properties

Hollow silica nanospheres (HSNs) have superior properties such as low density, low dielectric constant, low thermal conductivity, good sound absorption, dispersibility, fluidity, and stability. They have the potential to be utilised as a reinforcing material in the development of next generation composites due to their properties. Epoxy is one of the commonly utilised polymers in today's technology. Production of epoxy matrix composite materials reinforced with particles having superior properties will open up new application areas for epoxy. In this study, mesoporous HSNs were produced. The mechanical, thermal and sound insulation properties of the composite were examined by reinforcing these mesoporous HSNs to the epoxy matrix. The epoxy matrix was reinforced with HSNs at 1 wt.%, 5 wt.%, and 10 wt.%. When the concentration of HSNs in the epoxy matrix was increased, its strength increased and its ductility decreased. While the non-reinforced epoxy had a tensile strength of 36.45 MPa, but the tensile strength of epoxy at the end of 10% HSN reinforcement reached 89.06 MPa. The strain % reduced in half. The sound insulation properties of epoxy improved as the concentration of HSNs increased. Thermal conductivity coefficient dropped up to a 5% reinforcement ratio, and then increased slightly at a 10% reinforcement ratio. The microstructure analyses indicated that when the reinforcement ratio increased, difficulties in the distribution of reinforcements to the matrix appeared. Furthermore, it was observed that when the matrix/reinforcement interface was improved, the properties of the composite improved.