International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395 -0056 Volume: 03 Issue: 03 | Mar-2016 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072 © 2016, IRJET | Impact Factor value: 4.45 | ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal | Page 51 Thermal properties of nano-copper oxide reinforced epoxy composites W.V.Vicki 1 , Tunku Atiqah 2 1 Lecturer, Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia 2 Undergraduate Student, Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia ---------------------------------------------------------------------***--------------------------------------------------------------------- Abstract - The use of metal oxide fillers into polymer composite has been increasingly popular because of its ability to improve material properties. In this study, nano-copper oxide (nCuO) filler will be reinforced into epoxy matrix to form composites and then tested for its thermal properties. The aim of this study is to study the thermal stability of the composites so that it can withstand high operating temperature when used in electronic devices. The specimens are prepared using solvent casting method by mixing epoxy resin and hardener, then incorporating different filler contents of nCuO particles into the mixture. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry were conducted on three different specimens for thermal characterization of the materials. The addition of small amount of nCuO particles into the epoxy matrix has lowered the decomposition temperature and glass transition temperature of composites, hence decreasing its thermal stability making it less effective to incorporate into the epoxy for the use of electronic applications. Key Words: Epoxy composite, nano-copper oxide, thermal analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) 1. INTRODUCTION Composites are material made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties, that when combined, create a material with characteristics distinctive from its individual components. Nanocomposites have a growing interest in the research and industrial sectors because of their attractive behavior in improving mechanical properties, increasing flammability resistant, and enhancing thermal properties. Polymer nano- composites can be fabricated by hybridization of polymeric materials and nanofillers [1]. Nanoparticles have many significant properties due to their small size and high specific surface area [2]. Epoxy resin is one of the most used polymers in the manufacturing industry. Epoxy contains glycidyl groups that can be cured to form usable materials. It provides good chemical, moisture, and solvent resistance as well as good stability in mechanical and thermal properties [3]. Epoxy resins are increasingly used as matrices for a widespread application, for example, aircraft parts, printed circuit boards, surface coatings, structural adhesives, and engineering composites [4]. Epoxy is also extensively applied in electronic packaging. One of the many forms of epoxy employed in electronic packaging is as conducting adhesives. Here, metal fillers are incorporated into the epoxy. The incorporation of nano-copper oxide reinforced into the epoxy is a potential alternative for the improvement of the thermal stability of epoxy composites. Metal or metal oxide nanoparticles have large specific surface area and high activity in most catalytic processes. It is noted that nanoparticles are not only effective in the catalytic processes such as gas-solid, gas-liquid or liquid–solid, where the nanoparticles as the catalyst are the solid phase, but also effective in the solid-solid catalytic processes [5]. Transition metal oxide nanoparticles exhibit a broad class of materials that have been investigated extensively due to their interesting catalytic properties and wide scope of their potential applications [6]. 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS Overview of the research methodology and materials is presented in this section. In this part, the standard experimental apparatus and procedures that were applied throughout the research work is described. Relevant information for certain scopes of experimental techniques, apparatus used and procedures will be shown when necessary. 2.1 Preparation and fabrication of nCuO reinforced epoxy composites Epoxy resin (A) with hardener (B) type Bondite–8950 was purchased from AZ Usaha Dagang Enterprise, Malaysia and nano-copper oxide particles size 40-60 nm were used for the sample preparation. To prepare the composite, epoxy resin and its corresponding hardener are mixed at a ratio of 60:40 parts by weight. The measurement of the composite parts were employed using digital weight measurement and held as accurately as possible. The more exact the proportion, the more accurate the results. Table 1 depicts the theoretical mixing ratio for combination of epoxy resin and hardener with nCuO particle fillers with samples labeled as Ep, EnCuO- 4, and EnCuO-8. The samples are casted into three different moulds using solvent casting method. Once the products are