Study of nano-SiO2 on properties of epoxy resin and its glass fiber reinforced composite materials

By mechanical stirring or ultrasonic dispersion method, the nano-SiO2 particles were dispersed in epoxy resin, and the effect of the nano-SiO2 dispersion had been characterized through cross-section morphology of scanning electron microscopy. The mechanical properties of nano-SiO2 particles modified epoxy resin and its glass reinforced composites were investigated. The results showed that the ultrasonic dispersion effect was obviously superior to the mechanical stirring; the nano-SiO2 content had a significant impact on the dispersion and mechanical properties of epoxy resin; compared with the unmodified epoxy resin, through ultrasonic dispersion, the bending strength incresed 21.2% for casting body modified by 1wt% SiO2 and the flexural and tensile strength were increased by 9.7% and 7.9%, but the interlaminar shear strength was reduced by 10.6% for its glass fiber reinforced composites.