Issue 78

K. Dileep et alii, Fracture and Structural Integrity, 78 (2026) 31-43; DOI: 10.3221/IGF-ESIS.78.03

Figure 1 : Steps for arrangement of epoxy nanocomposites [10].

Graphene (wt.%)

Specimen code

Matrix (wt. %)

SiO 2 (wt.%)

PE

100 99.9 99.8 99.7 99.6 99.9 99.8 99.7 99.6

-

- - - - -

.

EGR1 EGR2 EGR3 EGR4 EGRS1 EGRS2 EGRS3 EGRS4

0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4

0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20

0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20

Table 2: Composition of the nanocomposites prepared.

C HARACTERIZATIONS OF COMPOSITES

A

full suite of different characterization techniques was employed to determine the chemical, thermal, mechanical and fracture properties of nanocomposite materials that were manufactured in this study. The procedures for each characterization technique will be discussed in the following sections. Tensile testing All samples were tested for tensile strength by means of a Tinius Olsen universal testing machine with 10 kN capacity according to ASTM D 638 [13] at a crosshead velocity of 3 mm/min. Tensile specimen dimensions are shown in Fig. 2(a). Each type of sample was verified in five specimens, and the mean value was considered as the tensile strength of composite samples.

34