Abstract
This study investigated the effects of the packing density and particle size distribution of TiO(2) nanoparticles on the mechanical properties of TiO(2)-epoxy nanocomposites (NCs). The uniform dispersion and good interfacial bonding of TiO(2) in the epoxy resin resulted in improved mechanical properties with the addition of nanoparticles. Reinforcement nano-TiO(2) particles dispersed in deionized water produced by three different ultrasonic dispersion methods were used; the ultrasonication effects were then compared. The nano-TiO(2) suspension was added at 0.5-5.0 wt.%, and the mechanical and thermal properties of TiO(2)-epoxy NCs were compared using a universal testing machine, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The tensile strength of the NCs was improved by the dispersion strengthening effect of the TiO(2) nanoparticles, and focused sonication improved the tensile strength the most when nano-TiO(2) suspensions with a particle size of 100 nm or smaller were used. Thus, the reinforcing effect of TiO(2) nanoparticles on the epoxy resin was observed, and the nano-TiO(2) suspension produced by focused sonication showed a more distinct reinforcing effect.