Optimization and Experimental Investigation of the Mechanical Properties of Copper/Graphene Oxide/Epoxy Hybrid Nanocomposites

Abstract

This study focuses on the effect of copper nanoparticles and graphene oxide nanosheets on the tensile properties and impact strength of epoxy-based hybrid nanocomposites. A mechanical mixer and an ultrasonicator were used to mix the reinforcements with the epoxy resin. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM) was used to examine the fracture surface morphology, and tensile and impact tests were conducted to assess the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites. These properties were optimized by a genetic algorithm. The results showed that adding 0.75 wt% copper nanoparticles and 1 wt.% graphene oxide to the epoxy increased its tensile strength by 45.7 and 37.14%, respectively, compared with those of pure epoxy, and adding 0.5 wt% graphene oxide and 0.75 wt% copper nanoparticle led to a 61.76 and 32.35% increase in its fracture strength. The tensile test results indicated that the tensile strength of specimens reinforced with 0.125 wt% graphene oxide and 0.125 wt% copper nanoparticles increased by 47.51% compared with those of pure epoxy and adding 0.375 wt% graphene oxide and 0.375 wt% copper nanoparticles increased the fracture energy by 91.18%.