Evaluating the mechanical, chemical and electromagnetic properties of ZnO nanoparticle coated glass fibers for fiber-reinforced composites

Glass fibers are widely utilized as reinforcement materials in composites due to their substantial properties, including mechanical strength, impact resistance, high strength-to-weight ratio, and cost efficiency. Improving the properties of glass fiber directly impacts the performance of composites. In this study, the mechanical, chemical, and electromagnetic properties of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticle-coated E-glass fibers were investigated. A thin ZnO nanoparticle layer was applied onto the fibers via the dip-coating method, forming thin coatings to improve the mechanical and chemical properties. The uniformly coated ZnO nanoparticles enhanced the tensile strength of glass fibers by up to 14.67 %, accompanied by a corresponding improvement in the Weibull modulus, indicating a reduced failure probability. Moreover, the coating provided adequate protection against acid corrosion, maintaining surface integrity after 24 h of exposure to HCl solution. The coated fibers were further used to form fiber-reinforced composites. The electromagnetic response of the composites was evaluated in the X-band frequency range (8.2-12.4 GHz). While the ZnO layer slightly increased reflectance due to the presence of Zn-based nanoparticles, overall dielectric performance remained stable. These results demonstrate that ZnO nanoparticle coatings significantly enhance the mechanical and chemical durability of Eglass fibers while maintaining their desirable electromagnetic characteristics, providing a scalable and straightforward route for high-performance composite applications.