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Ritesh Dixit,
Anil Kumar,
Shakun Srivastava,
Anurag Mishra,
Kheelraj Pandey,
- PhD scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amity University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amity University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pranveer Singh Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amity University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amity University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
Abstract
This study explores a simple and operative approach for developing stronger epoxy-based composite materials by incorporating halloysite nanotubes (HNTs). The composites were made-up through hydraulic compression casting, combining ultrasonic mixing with applied pressure to produce consolidated composite sheets. HNTs were added to the epoxy resin at concentrations ranging from 1 to 5 wt.% at approximately 60°C, and the subsequent composites were examined to understand their internal structure, nanotube dispersion, and the presence of voids or defects. The findings establish that the incorporation of HNTs can significantly improve the physical and mechanical performance of the epoxy matrix. Among the compositions inspected, the composite containing 3 wt.% HNTs prepared with ultrasonic mixing exhibited the most favorable overall performance. Compared with neat epoxy, this preparation showed an approximately 9% increase in density and a substantial 34% enhancement in tensile strength. X-ray analysis further confirmed a comparatively uniform distribution of HNTs throughout the epoxy matrix, which contributed to the improved mechanical properties. In addition, good agreement between the experimental results and numerical simulations maintained the reliability of the findings. Overall, the study demonstrates that a moderately small addition of HNTs, particularly at 3 wt.%, can effectively enhance the density and tensile strength of epoxy composites. The planned fabrication method is straightforward and has potential for producing high-performance composite sheets for a range of engineering applications.
Keywords: Ultrasonication; Epoxy; Halloysite Nanotubes; tensile analysis; Finite component technique; XRD
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Journal of Polymer & Composites
| Volume | 14 | |
| 04 | ||
| Received | 19/08/2026 | |
| Accepted | 31/08/2026 | |
| Published | 03/09/2026 | |
| Publication Time | 15 Days |