Investigation of mechanical, thermal and electrical properties of nanoparticle reinforced laminated composite materials

In this master's thesis, the mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of E-glass fiber-reinforced laminated composite materials were investigated by incorporating hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) nanoparticles into an epoxy-based matrix at varying ratios and particle sizes. The composites were fabricated using the hand lay-up and vacuum bagging technique, with BN contents of 0.2% and 0.4% by weight and particle sizes of 65–75 nm and 790 nm. The prepared samples were subjected to tensile, shear, impact, hardness, electrical conductivity, and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) tests according to ASTM standards. Additionally, post-shear test samples were analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to evaluate microstructural damage morphology. The results were compared with unreinforced control specimens. The findings indicated that the inclusion of BN nanoparticles improved tensile strength, shear resistance, hardness, and thermal resistance properties. Particularly, the addition of 0.2% BN with 65–75 nm particle size yielded the most balanced mechanical and thermal performance. In terms of electrical conductivity, the insulation nature of BN was preserved, and no significant increase in conductivity was observed. This study highlights the potential of BN-reinforced laminated composites for advanced engineering applications