Influence of POSS nanoparticles on the microstructure and mechanical properties of carbon fiber reinforced epoxy hybrid composites

The possibility to design composites with superior properties by incorporation of nanoscale reinforcing material still remains to be fulfilled. In the current study, bisphenol A diglycidyl ether-based epoxy resin has been successfully modified with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) nanoparticles to give epoxy/POSS nanocomposites. Carbon fiber reinforced composites with different fiber orientations are processed via vacuum bagging technique using this composite as the matrix. Scanning electron microscopy indicated that POSS nanofillers homogeneously distributed in the matrix. As proved by the tensile, flexural, and interlaminar shear strength tests, the inclusion of POSS nanofillers in the polymer matrix has promoted significant improvements in the mechanical properties of the carbon fiber reinforced POSS/epoxy hybrid composites compared to the analogues with neat epoxy matrix. Thus, hybrid composites with exceptional properties are obtained via a straightforward modification in the matrix and a novel paradigm without using any expensive compound has been added to the library of nanocomposite formulations.