The influence of immersion in different chemical solutions on the mechanical and physical properties of (epoxystyrene-butadiene rubber)‎ blend reinforced with nano copper oxide

Abstract EN

The aim of this work was to evaluate some mechanical and physical properties of a composite material which consists of (epoxy/styrene-butadiene rubber) blend as a matrix, reinforced with copper oxide (CuO) with a weight fraction 3%, and the composite material was manufactured by hand lay-up.

The optimum mixing ratio was (75:25) % of epoxy and (SBR) was chosen to accomplish the work due to its highest impact strength (2.1KJ/m2).

The tests that were performed on the material were: tensile test, impact test, thermal conductivity test, and the absorption test, in addition to the microscopic imaging using scanning electron microscope (SEM), to determine the surface morphology of the specimens.

Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and hydrochloric acid (HCl), both (0.1) normal concentration solutions, were used for the immersion.

The results showed that CuO nanofiller improved tensile and impact properties of the blend, besides increasing resistance to diffusion of chemicals into the material.

The results showed that the immersion in HCl solution increased the impact strength of the composite from (2.27KJ/m2) to (3.38KJ/m2), and also increased the tensile strength from (9.2MPa) to (9.8 MPa), while immersion in NaOH solution decreased the tensile strength to (7.3MPa), but increased the impact strength to (2.42KJ/m2).

Thermal conductivity was (0.21W/m.°C) before immersion in solutions, but changed to (0.27W/m.°C) and (0.24W/m.°C) after immersion in HCl and NaOH respectively.

The weight gain after immersion in NaOH was higher than weight gain after immersion in HCl