Dynamic mechanical, thermal and wear analysis of Ni-P coated glass fiber/Al₂O₃ nanowire reinforced vinyl ester composite

Hybrid polymer composites nowadays are increasingly used in many engineering products which are subjected to wear, dynamic mechanical and thermal applications. So in the present study, we have investigated the evaluation of dynamic mechanical, thermal and wear properties of vinyl ester hybrid composite strengthened with Ni-P coated E-glass fiber and Al₂O₃ nanowires as reinforcement at different concentrations. Nickel-Phosphorus is plated over the glass fiber substrate by means of the electroless plating method. The best optimum bath composition was determined after many trials and used for the proper plating process. From the outcome of the result, it is clear that the storage modulus has a trend to increase with increase in the concentration of Ni-P coated glass fiber (GF) and further increases when Al₂O₃ nanowires are used as the reinforcement. The glass transition temperature is also shifted to the higher temperature in the process. From the thermogravimetric analysis, it is clear that the thermal stability of the composite steps up with the addition of Al₂O₃ nanowires as fillers and Ni-P/GF as reinforcement. The wear properties are analyzed and the morphology of the coated and worn-out surfaces are studied by means of scanning electron micrographs and optical microscope images. Keywords: Hybrid composite, Al₂O₃ nanowire, Electroless Ni-P, Dynamic mechanical analysis, Wear