Mechanical and wear behaviors of carbon-based nanoparticle reinforced polymer composites

In this thesis, nanocomposites were produced by reinforcing neat epoxy resin with different weight ratios (0.05%, 0.1%, and 0.125%) of graphene-doped carbon nanotubes (G-KNT), and their mechanical, tribological, thermal and surface properties were investigated. The prepared samples were subjected to a wide range of tests including tensile testing, three-point bending, wear testing (pin-on-disk), hardness measurements (Shore D), thermal analysis(TGA), surface roughness (profilometer), and microstructural observations (stereo microscope) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. When all test results are evaluated together, it was observed that the sample with 0.125% graphene-doped CNT in epoxy composites exhibited the most suitable contribution ratio. While the 0.05% contribution ratio stood out in terms of mechanical performance, the 0.125% ratio provided the best result in wear resistance. At 0.1% contribution, fluctuations were observed in some properties, highlighting the critical importance of homogeneous dispersion. Based on the obtained data, it was concluded that nano-phase reinforcement improves performance up to a certain level, but inhomogeneous dispersion can lead to surface irregularities and mechanical weaknesses. This study highlights the potential of nanostructured additives in epoxy resins and provides guiding data for advanced applications.