The development of eco-friendly composites using recycled high-density polyethylene (rHDPE) and date palm leaf (DPL) fibers is often hindered by poor interfacial bonding. This incompatibility arises from the hydrophobic nature of the polymer matrix versus the hydrophilic nature of the natural fibers. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of fiber treatment and nanoparticle modification on the microstructure and performance of rHDPE/DPL/ZnO composites, prioritizing efficient fiber-side treatments over matrix processing. This study was carried out by chemically treating DPL fibers with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and stearic acid, followed by modification with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles to improve adhesion. The composites were then subjected to a comprehensive suite of characterization tests, including tensile testing for mechanical strength, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) for thermal stability, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) for thermal transitions, X-ray diffraction (XRD) for crystalline structure, and optical microscopy for morphological evaluation. The findings show that the treatments significantly enhanced the material properties across all metrics. Tensile testing revealed that the A5 composite achieved the highest mechanical performance, with a Young's modulus of approximately 1.2 GPa and an elongation at break of roughly 9%. TGA results indicated improved thermal stability; specifically, sample A4 showed a degradation temperature (Td) increase of 8.7 degrees C (+1.83%) over A3, while sample A6 showed a gain of 5.1 degrees C (+1.07%) over A5. XRD analysis confirmed an efficient structural reinforcement, reaching a maximum crystallinity of 74.06%. Furthermore, melt flow index (MFI) analysis demonstrated that while fiber reinforcement naturally increases viscosity, stearic acid treatment provides a lubricating effect that maintains MFI values between 6 and 7 g/10 min, ensuring excellent processability for injection molding and 3D printing. Finally, optical microscopy and morphological studies observed superior fiber dispersion and cleaner interfaces, indicating that the fibers were evenly spread and well-separated within the rHDPE structure. It was concluded that the combination of chemical treatments and ZnO nanoparticle modification effectively bridges the compatibility gap between rHDPE and DPL fibers. These findings underscore the viability of these modified composites for high-performance structural and industrial applications.
The aim of this study is to investigate the manufacturability of Melilotus officinalis (L.) reinforced epoxy biocomposites as a renewable biofiller and to characterize the mechanical, thermal, and dielectric properties of these materials. For this purpose, composites containing biomass at 0, 3, 6, and 9 wt.% were prepared; the samples were examined by tensile testing, FTIR, SEM, EDX, XRD, Shore D hardness, thermal conductivity, and dielectric analysis. The findings showed that with increasing M. officinalis content, tensile strength, hardness, and density decreased, while ductility and elongation at break improved. The significant decrease in thermal conductivity revealed an increase in heat insulation efficiency. Dielectric analyses showed that strong interfacial polarization occurred at low frequencies, and the dielectric constant and loss values decreased as the frequency increased. SEM examinations confirmed that the plant-derived filler was homogeneously distributed and formed acceptable interfacial adhesion with the matrix. In conclusion, although the use of synthetic epoxy matrix and the decrease in mechanical strength limit load-bearing structural applications, M. officinalis is a promising biofiller for lightweight and partially bio-based epoxy composites thanks to its increased ductility and improved thermal insulation properties.
Despite that artificial nerve guide conduits (NGC) have been widely applied in nerve tissue repair for treating peripheral nerve injury (PNI), those apparatuses face great challenges in repairing long-gap nerve defects due to their non-conductive nature. Herein, we report that such clinical issue can be addressed by a bio-mimic polycaprolactone (PCL)-based nerve conduit doped with conductive mixtures (denoted as PP) of polyethylene dioxythiophene (PEDOT) and polystyrene sulfonate (PSS). The PCL-PP nerve conduits demonstrated porous reticular fibrous networks with biocompatible and physicochemical properties. The structure novelty endows the material with a robust mechanical character with a Young's modulus of 0.32 MPa and a tensile strength of 2.9 MPa. Benefited from the capability of conducting endogenous electrical stimulation due to the high conductivity of 5.8 & times; 10(-3) S/m, the PCL-PP nerve conduits can regulate the biological behavior of Schwann cells (SCs), and remarkably promote the myelin sheath growth and regeneration of nerve tissues in a 10 mm sciatic nerve defect SD rat model. Compared to the contrast nerve conduits without PP compositions, the PCL-PP nerve conduits accelerated the recovery rate of extremity motor function of SD rats by a factor of 1.25-fold. These findings prove that our reported novel PCL-PP composite nerve conduit with functional integration of bioelectrical stimulation is a promising therapeutic approach toward PNI therapy.
The extensive use of petroleum-based polymers has exacerbated environmental pollution and fossil fuel depletion, spurring global interest in eco-friendly alternatives. Biodegradable materials serve as a potential replacement for non-biodegradable polymers. Among them, Cellulose, a prevalent natural biopolymer, having emerged as a promising material due to its affordability, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. However, cellulose alone have poor properties, therefore modification may be reequired. Recent research investigated the preparation of cellulose and Montmorillonite (MMT) clay films using the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate as a solvent. The study is aimed to evaluate the impact of MMT on the mechanical, absorption, and thermal properties of cellulose films. The results indicated that incorporating MMT significantly improved the films' moisture and water absorption properties. Moisture absorption decreased from 15.73 wt% to 8.55 wt%, and water absorption reduced from 22.68 wt% to 9.15 wt% as MMT content increased from 0% to 3%. Additionally, the water contact angle increased by approximately 54%, suggesting reduced hydrophilicity due to enhanced interaction between cellulose and clay particles. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed that the glass transition temperature of the cellulose films increased with MMT loading, peaking at 89.447 ℃ with 3% MMT. While crystallization temperature remained unchanged or decreased, tensile stress and modulus improved with increased MMT content, achieving a maximum tensile strength of 32.06 MPa and modulus of 1.53 GPa at 3% MMT. The thermal stability of the films also enhanced, with a maximum improvement of 35.6% in thermal stability at 3% MMT loading. In conclusion, the research demonstrated that cellulose/MMT nanocomposite films, produced via solvent casting with EMIMAc, exhibited notable improvements in mechanical, absorption, and thermal properties due to effective cellulose-MMT interactions.
This study introduces a novel polyaniline–chitosan/nano TiO 2 composite (PAn-CS) synthesized through nanoparticle-incorporating to modify surface features, thereby improving its ability to adsorb and remove anionic rose Bengal (RB) dye. The composite was produced by incorporating TiO 2 , SiO 2 , or ZrO 2 nanoparticles into the PAn-CS composite using chemical oxidation via a single-stage precipitation procedure. Analysis of the structural and morphological characteristics was carried out with X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared and scanning electron microscopy. The composites’ thermal stability, surface properties, and surface charge of composites were also evaluated. The adsorption process was investigated through kinetics, isotherms, thermodynamics, and mechanistic insights. Results indicated that adding nano-oxides enhanced the PAn-CS composite’s affinity for RB removal. Optimal TiO 2 -content at 10% wt. howed a maximum adsorption efficiency of 96% within 60 minutes at 25 o C and pH 4, with a 0.025 g adsorbent dose and an initial dye concentration of 25 mg/L. Notably, the PAn-CS/TiO 2 composite demonstrated the highest RB adsorption capacity of 643.62 mgg -1 . The adsorption data were well fitted by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, suggesting chemisorptions as the primary mechanism. The adsorption involved electrostatic, hydrogen bonds, and π-π interactions. The composite also showed excellent stability and reusability over five cycles, highlighting its potential for practical and sustainable dye-removal applications.
This study designed and fabricated polyurethane-based granular ceramic/polyurethane composites. The dynamic mechanical properties and anti-penetration performance of different composites were systematically investigated by varying the hardness of the polyurethane matrix and the material composition of ceramic spheres. Penetration experiments revealed that composites with higher polyurethane matrix hardness exhibited larger damage areas on the rear elastic surface while maintaining favorable anti-penetration performance. Among various ceramic spheres tested, alumina ceramic beads demonstrated superior ballistic resistance. Finite element simulations were employed to reconstruct the penetration failure modes of the composites with enhanced precision. The simulation results indicate that high-hardness ceramic spheres serve as the primary factor contributing to both the excellent anti-penetration characteristics and the extensive damage area observed in post-impact composite structures.
Understanding hydrogen-polymer interactions is essential for designing lightweight and durable hydrogen storage systems for future, sustainable mobility. This study applies molecular dynamics simulations to examine hydrogen solubility, diffusion, permeation and the resulting mechanical response in two representative thermoplastic polymers: polyethylene (PE) and polyamide 6 (PA6). Hydrogen uptake was determined through Grand Canonical Monte Carlo methods, while diffusion coefficients were derived from a mean-squared-displacement analysis. Permeability coefficients were obtained as the product of solubility and diffusivity according to the literature. To assess the mechanical behavior, uniaxial tensile tests were simulated on an atomic scale, under various pressures with and without dissolved hydrogen. The results show that the amorphous regions of PE exhibit a permeability coefficient approximately one order of magnitude higher than that of the amorphous regions of PA6. The semi-crystalline nature of polymers was considered by applying an analytical correction. The corrected permeability values align well with the experimentally measured data from the literature with deviations between -34 % and +24 % for PE and PA6, respectively. In a hydrogen-saturated state, both polymers reveal a marked hydrogen-induced reduction in mechanical response, with PE losing up to 75 % and PA6 up to 85 % of their predicted stiffness under elevated hydrogen pressures and tensile loading conditions. The findings provide molecular-level insights into hydrogen-induced mechanisms in polymers which show high potential to be used in thermoplastic composites for the next generation of Type V hydrogen vessels.
A set of semicontinuous Pickering emulsion copolymerizations was performed to promote the incorporation of SiO 2 nanoparticles (nSi) into styrene–n-butyl acrylate copolymer matrices with very different initial mechanical behaviors, evaluating their influence on the final mechanical performance. The proposed strategy employed a low percentage of nSi as both a stabilizing and a reinforcing agent, replacing traditional surfactants and enabling the formation of nanocomposite latexes with excellent colloidal stability. By systematically varying comonomer ratios (S/BA, from 70/30 to 40/60, w/w) and feeding profiles, materials exhibiting tunable mechanical responses ranging from rigid to soft behavior were prepared. Tensile testing revealed that the introduction of nSi induced different types of mechanical modifications in the original matrices (e.g., a considerable decrease in rupture strain with non-statistically significant changes in the other parameters, or the rigidization of the original matrix upon nSi incorporation). However, the most pronounced improvements were observed in styrene-rich systems, where simultaneous increases in modulus, yield stress, rupture stress, rupture strain, and toughness were obtained, suggesting that the Pickering process promoted efficient nanoparticle dispersion. These findings highlight the potential of Pickering emulsion copolymerization as a versatile route for producing surfactant-free nanocomposites with adjustable mechanical properties and suitable nanofiller distribution. Besides, the results confirm the wide variety of mechanical modifications that can be induced by the presence of nSi in polymer matrices with different initial mechanical behaviors, despite considering the same chemical system (S/BA).
Particle reinforcement is one of the methods used in natural hybrid composite manufacturing to enhance mechanical characteristics. In this work, four distinct hybrid laminates were prepared using natural fibers and four different weight percentages (Wt.%) of titanium oxide nano filler by the compression molding procedure. Epoxy served as the matrix, and sisal and banana fibers were utilized as natural reinforcements. With the addition of the hybrid fiber reinforcement and TiO 2 filler, the mechanical properties of flexural, impact, and tensile characteristics improved greatly (impact energy of 13.452 J, flexural strength of 94.86 MPa, and tensile strength of 18.6 MPa). Mechanical performance was enhanced in polymer-based composites by the addition of 3 Wt. % TiO 2 filler. The features are improved by the filler substitutes, which fill the space between the fiber and matrix phases. When 3 weight percent TiO 2 (T3) was added, the minimum wear of 13 μm with the Coefficient of Friction 0.0068 was observed for the T3 at a 20 N load, with a frictional force of 0.2 N.
This study assessed stepped and overlap wet lay-up composite patch repair methods. The stepped repair design exhibits many desirable features such as high strength recovery and flush installation, however typically results in excessively large repair sizes, making them unsuitable for many repair areas. Furthermore, stepped repair application requires removal of large areas of pristine composite material and is thus time and resource intensive. In this work, a coupon mechanical testing program and a simple constrained, discrete optimisation approach demonstrates that the use of an optimally designed overlap patch repair can provide equivalent mechanical performance, but with reduced patch size, repair application time and repair complexity. This optimised repair design also significantly improves future part repairability through preservation of pristine structure.
This study investigated the influence of hybrid fillers such as carbon black (CB), silica, and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on mechanical properties and self-healing capability of the natural rubber (NR) composites based on metal thiolate ionic network. The Taguchi method was employed to optimize the hybrid filler composition using a reduced number of experiments, enabling efficient parameter evaluation, improved reliability of statistical analysis, and reduction in experimental cost and time. It was also used to optimize filler loadings and analyse their effects on key mechanical parameters including tensile strength, elongation at break, tear strength, hardness, compression set and crosslink density. Results suggest that MWCNTs contribute to enhanced mechanical performance through their high aspect ratio and interaction with the rubber matrix, followed by silica and carbon black. ANOVA analysis identified a filler combination of 15 phr CB, 20 phr silica, and 8 phr MWCNTs that represents a trade-off, where improved mechanical performance is achieved at the expense of reduced healing efficiency compared to unfilled NR.
Incorporation of filler materials in polymer composites have gained due to their superior qualities such as improved properties. The objective of the work is to study the effect of plant-based fillers, such as Rice Husk (RH), Wheat Husk (WH), and Wood Dust (WD) on the mechanical and morphological properties of Jute(J)/Glass(G)/Epoxy composites. Five layers with same stacking sequence of G/J/G/J/G were occupied in the sample. Fiber and matrix ratio were maintained as 30/70 (wt.%). Three different (1%, 3%, and 5%) wt.% of natural fillers were incorporated to investigate the effects on characterization of ten different samples (RH1, RH3, RH5, WH1, WH3, WH5, WD1, WD3, WD5, and NF). In case of mechanical characterization, WH3 exhibited the highest tensile strength of 70.25 MPa, RH3 showed the best result with the value of flexural strength of 160.04 MPa, WD3 showed strongest impact resistance, measuring at 12.293 J/cm 2 , and RH5 provided better hardness of 76 HRB. In case of thermal characterization, WH3 sample losses its weight considerably in a faster than other samples, the maximum decompositions rate has been recorded at the temperature of 443 °C for the WD5 sample, and WD5 showed the best exothermic phenomenon. In FT-IR analysis, it was found that the RH5 sample showed less transmittance than all other samples. All WH samples provided better water absorption capability than others. SEM analysis showed that the fiber diameter was found around 20 µm and showed that filler materials were dispersed though some voids are observed due to agglomeration of the particles.
This study aims to analyze composite materials empirically, utilizing corn cob and ground chestnut shell fiber as reinforcement, with polyvinyl alcohol serving as the matrix. This study aims to analyze the mechanical and thermal insulating properties of composites made from alkali and saline-treated corncob and ground chestnut shell fiber to assess their potential applications in technical fields. This investigation involved the development of 5 bio-composites, each composed of 65% PVA, with differing proportions of corn cob and ground chestnut shell fiber: 100%/0%, 0%/100%, 50%/50%, 30%/70%, and 70%/30%. Compression molding served as the fabrication method. The mechanical characteristics of these composites were evaluated in accordance with ASTM standards. OM and SEM analysis was utilized to examine fiber morphology and binding characteristics. The findings indicate that the tensile strength of composites composed of corn cob and ground chestnut shell fiber is 7.99 MPa. The composites consisting of 70% corncob and 30% ground chestnut shell fibers demonstrate a superior thermal insulation coefficient (1.58448) compared to other configurations. Additionally, in comparison to the other samples, the 30/70 composites exhibited superior impact resistance of 0.89 J/m 2 .
Eco-friendly nanoparticles modified-coconut coir based capacitive sensors (C, CN, CI, CIN and I ) were fabricated. Compressive pressure led to a reduction in their thickness and lowered the frequencies to 49.8∼50.7Hz. In terms of resistance-pressure change, the sensor I generally recorded the best sensitivity (S), with the highest value (0.68kPa -1 , r 2 ∼0.9) obtained within 0.26∼0.44kPa ranges. Also, sensor I exhibited an ultra-sensitive voltage detection at all pressure ranges, with the highest value (48.5kPa -1 ) recorded at 0∼0.17kPa with a strong linearity (r 2 ∼0.998). In detection of capacitance, CN was very effective at lower pressure range; 0∼0.087kPa while sensor I outperformed CN as elevated pressure 0.087∼5.2kPa. Sensor I was also effective in energy harvesting analysis, especially at elevated pressures. In terms of flexibility study, the order of the absolute gage factor (GF) of the sensors was I (GF∼0.25, r 2 ∼0.995) > CN (GF∼0.084, r 2 ∼0.97) > C (GF∼0.082, r 2 ∼0.91) > CI (GF∼0.061, r 2 ∼0.94) > CIN (GF∼0.082, r 2 ∼0.91). The sensors exhibited consistency and stability even after 2000 cycles of detections, linked to the porous nature of the coir and the suitable elastic fatigue acrylic used. Thus, coconut coir waste has been demonstrated to meet green electronics and circular economy goals by enhancing the biodegradability of capacitive sensors.
A new bio-based unsaturated polyester resin was blended with a bio-based reactive diluent and evaluated. Furan-based monomers were selected as the main monomers in both the resin and the bio-based reactive diluent to enhance thermomechanical properties and address solubility issues typically seen in bio-based resins and diluents. The resin was synthesized from 2,5-furan dicarboxylic acid, isosorbide, and glycerol, and the resulting polymer intermediate was then end-capped with methacrylic anhydride to introduce reactive sites for cross-linking reaction. The resin was then mixed with either different percentages of bio-based reactive diluent (2,5-bis(hydroxy-methyl) furan methacrylate) or with styrene to study the thermomechanical and rheological behavior of obtained resins. FT-IR, 13 C-NMR, and 1 H-NMR were used to determine the chemical structure of the bio-based reactive diluent. The thermomechanical properties of resin containing bio-based reactive diluent or styrene are characterized and compared by DMA, TGA, and DSC. The synthesized resin had good solubility in the bio-based reactive diluent but not in the styrene. The different mixtures of resin and bio-based reactive diluent showed glass transition temperatures ranging from 166 °C to 174 °C, which was higher than the commercial fossil-based unsaturated polyester resin used as a reference in this study. With thermal and mechanical properties comparable to commercial petroleum-based thermosets, these bio-based resins are promising candidates for high-performance composites, coatings, and other thermoset-based applications.
The growing demand for ecofriendly brake friction materials has accelerated research into green alternatives to conventional hazardous components such as asbestos. This study examines novel hybrid composites with permanganate (KMnO 4 )-treated Alpinia galanga ( A. galanga ) stem fibers and Pseudoxytenanthera stocksii ( P. stocksii ) bamboo rhizomes as reinforcement, combined with Metapenaeus dobsoni ( M. dobsoni ) shrimp-shell powder as a functional filler. The treated natural fibers enhance structural integrity and thermal stability, while the shrimp-shell powder contributes to controlled abrasiveness and improved surface interaction, together tailoring the composite’s frictional and wear performance for brake applications. Three composite variants were evaluated, with AGSSC ( A. galanga-P. stocksii -Shrimp shell composite) exhibiting superior density (1.52 g/cm 3 ), lower void content (2.56%), higher hardness (89 HRL) (measured by Hardness Rockwell L-scale), coefficient of friction (0.39–0.38), and 26% lower wear rate. The study directly supports SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production by upcycling multiple waste resources, including M. dobsoni shrimp shells as bio-fillers, P . stocksii Bamboo rhizome residues, and discarded A. galanga stems from medicinal plant processing, into high-performance friction composites. This approach promotes circular resource use, reduces dependence on non-renewable and non-recyclable materials, and demonstrates a sustainable pathway for developing eco-friendly brake friction materials.
Knitted fabrics exhibiting a Negative Poisson’s Ratio (NPR) show significant potential for advanced engineering applications, including personal protective equipment and industrial sectors such as aerospace, automotive, marine engineering, and biomedical devices. In this study, auxetic weft knitted fabric structures were designed by systematically varying loop length using polypropylene filament yarn. The knitted fabrics were subsequently incorporated into an epoxy matrix using the Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) process to form fabric-reinforced composite laminates. Tensile tests were conducted to investigate the load–extension behavior and auxetic response of the knitted fabric architecture in both wale and course directions. The results demonstrate that loop length has a pronounced effect on the auxetic behavior of the knitted structure, with increased loop length leading to higher extension and displacement, while shorter loop lengths exhibited greater load bearing capacity. The composite fabrication process was found to preserve the structural integrity of the auxetic fabric architecture. Failure analysis revealed matrix cracking, surface buckling, delamination, and fiber fracture as the dominant damage mechanisms. The findings highlight the effectiveness of structural design in controlling auxetic behavior in knitted fabric–based reinforcements for composite applications.
This study develops a novel biocomposite using coir fiber and bamboo filler in an epoxy matrix. The density of alkali-treated coir fiber was found to be decreased from 1470 ± 20 kg/m 3 to 1284 ± 24 kg/m 3 , while the bamboo filler density reduced from 965 ± 24 kg/m 3 to 846 ± 19 kg/m 3 , indicating successful reduction in fiber density for lightweight composite applications. Alkali treatment led to a significant 58.8% increase in tensile strength of the coir/epoxy composite, rising from 28.63 MPa to 45.45 MPa. Incorporation of bamboo filler further enhanced the tensile strength by 89.5%, reaching 54.26 MPa. Flexural strength also improved, with untreated coir/epoxy composites showing 25.75 MPa, increasing to 28.26 MPa post-alkali treatment (a 9.75% enhancement) and to 31.35 MPa with bamboo filler (21.74% increase). Impact resistance significantly improved, with the coir/epoxy composite’s impact strength rising from 26.43 kJ/m 2 to 31.45 kJ/m 2 after alkali treatment (a 19.01% increase) and to 34.56 kJ/m 2 with bamboo filler (30.78% increase). The biocomposite also exhibited reduced moisture absorption, with the highest moisture absorption observed being 6.76% for NaOH-treated coir/epoxy composites and 4.32% for composites containing both coir and bamboo fillers. This study demonstrates that integrating alkali-treated coir fiber and bamboo filler produces a lightweight, eco-friendly composite with superior mechanical performance, offering a promising alternative to conventional materials.
In present work, tribology tests were enacted to analyze the wear behavior of composite reinforced with Aloe vera, Corn, Eucalyptus and Soybean Fiber and Epoxy resin. Fatigue and creep tests were accomplished to evaluate the strength of prepared composite specimen under fluctuating and static load conditions. Tribological analysis revealed that hybrid composites achieved higher frictional force as compared to single fiber-based composites. Hybrid ACESE composite exhibits maximum frictional force of 14.01 N, 35.78 N and 37.46 N at 10, 30 and 50 N load for 5 m/s sliding speed as compared to other prepared composite specimens. COF of prepared composite samples were calculated at different sliding speeds (3, 5 and 7 m/s) and applied load of 10, 30 and 50 N load. Hybrid ACESE composite shows maximum value of COF at 10, 30 and 50 N load for 3, 5 and 7 m/s sliding speed. Sliding speed (3, 5 and 7 m/s) with respect to applied load (10, 30 and 50 N) shows the variations in specific wear rate (SWR) for all prepared specimens. During tribological analysis, higher frictional force achieved by hybrid ACESE composite exhibits the highest value of interfacial temperature at 5 m/s sliding speed for 10, 30 and 50 N applied load. While the lower value of frictional force achieved by CE composite displays the lowest value of interfacial temperature at 5 m/s sliding speed for 10, 30 and 50 N applied load. The fatigue test illustrated that hybrid ACESE composite attained the highest fatigue number of cycles at 3822, 3217 and 2218 for 25, 50 and 75% UTS. While CE composites resulted in the lowest fatigue number of cycles at 2234, 1826, and 1219 for 25, 50 and 75% UTS among all prepared specimens.
This research aims to characterize the mechanical and thermal properties of a blend of epoxy (EPR) and polysulfide (PS) that incorporates alumina trihydrate (ATH) nanoparticles (NPs). The purpose is to investigate the effect of adding NPs on the properties of the resulting epoxy-polymer blends. The polymer blend nanocomposites (PBNCs) were prepared from EPR and PS by adding different concentrations (1 wt.%, 3 wt.%, and 5 wt.%) of ATH NPs. The hand lay-up molding method was utilized to prepare the samples. The mechanical and thermal characteristics of the specimens have been studied. The structure and formation of the blend (EPR/PS) and the dispersion of NPs inside the blend and epoxy were confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Mechanical behaviour through tensile, flexural, and hardness tests was carried out on polymer blends and composites. The results show that the maximum toughness for PBNCs and EPR NCs was recorded at 5 wt% ATH NPs, exhibiting enhancements of 54.22% and 206.5% above pure EPR, respectively. Maximum elongation at break is observed at 5 wt.% of ATH nanoparticles, with increases of 312.45% and 425.36% for PBNC and EPR nanocomposites, respectively, in comparison to EPR. The maximum hardness is 86.26 at 5 wt.% of ATH nanoparticles for EPR nanocomposites. While the maximum flexural strength (75.05 MPa) and flexural modulus (2406.69 MPa) for EPR NCs exhibited increases of 20.62% and 37%, respectively, in comparison to EPR (1756.73 MPa). The XRD pattern showed a favourable interaction among the components in the EPR/PS blend and the NCs. SEM micrographs revealed that the blend has a single face, and the NPs were effectively dispersed into the prepared composites. The examination of thermogravimetric analysis-derivative thermogravimetry (TGA-DTG) data indicates that the enhanced thermal stability of EPRNCs and PBNCs contrasts with that of the EPR/PS blend.
