Preparation and Study the Effect of Nano Zinc Oxide Particles Upon Some Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Epoxy Resin

Nanoparticles of zinc oxide are prepared by three different chemical methods. The first one includes mixing of zinc nitrate (hexa – H 2 O) with solution of sodium hydroxide (0.4N) at a ratio of (2:1) (sampleN1). In the second method, ammonium bicarbonate solution mixed with zinc sulfate (0.2M) at a ratio of (1:2) (sampleN2). The third method includes mixing of zinc nitrate (hexa – H 2 O) with sodium hydroxide (0.6N) at a ratio of (2:1) (sampleN3), were solution of starch added as fixing agent for nanoparticles. The nanoparticles examined by X– ray diffraction technique. in addition to transmission electronic microscope to determine the volume of nanoparticles. Composites are prepared by mixing nanoparticles of zinc oxide with epoxy resin. Mechanical properties measurement showed that the hardness value of the sample (EP+N3) was (103.38) due to Shore is better than the values of the other prepared samples (EP, EP+N2, EP+N1). Also, the composite (EP+N3) showed good compressive strength which was (163.71 MPa). The value of thermal conductivity of the mentioned composite was (6.41W m -1 0 K -1 ) which indicates good thermal properties. However, the study showed that the Epoxy resin has a good response to form important composites with zinc oxide nanoparticles.