Physical effects of nanoaluminum oxide and nanographene on kenaf epoxy composite; vacuum bagging process

Abstract

In this study, the effect of secondary filler nanographene and primary filler nanoaluminum oxide with kenaf epoxy was investigated. The vacuum bagging process was performed, and a magnetic stirrer was used for blending additives. Water absorption (borewell, distilled, normal, and seawater) and chemical absorption (acid, base, and neutral solution) tests were carried out to evaluate the water absorption, chemical absorption, thickness swelling, and diffusivity of the composite with varying percentages of fillers. The result demonstrates that the addition of 6% primary and 3% secondary filler together, increases the density of the sample by 13.5% and decreases void content by 77%. The addition of secondary filler lowers water absorption in normal water by 1.3% compared to other types of water, as the addition of secondary filler increases the water absorption decreases by 70% in borewell water, 75% in distilled water, 76% in normal water, and 69% in seawater. Thickness swelling of the samples decreases upon the addition of secondary fillers. In acid, the primary and secondary fillers increase the resistance to dissolution. The diffusivity rate of the sample with a combination of fillers 1.3 × 10 ⁻⁵.