Evaluation of Mechanical and Antibacterial Properties of Nano Zinc Oxide and E-Glass Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Composite

Abstract: Composites are made by combining different materials with varying properties to create a new material with specific characteristics. This study aimed to develop a composite material using nano zinc oxide (ZnO), E-glass fibers, and epoxy resin. Epoxy resins have a wide range of uses in various industries due to their customizable nature. By incorporating different additives and nano materials, the versatility of epoxy can be further expanded to meet different application needs, including antibacterial, antimicrobial, anticorrosive and high mechanical properties. A series of samples with different concentrations of nano zinc oxide (0.5wt.%, 1wt.%, 1.5wt.%, and 2wt.%) were prepared using the hand layup method, while maintaining a consistent composition ratio of Epoxy and E-glass Fibers in all the other variants and is cured at room temperature. The mechanical and antibacterial properties of the developed specimens are evaluated and discussed. The developed composite is assessed for its hardness and antibacterial effectiveness against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. Analysis of obtained results indicate that the highest hardness was observed at 1.5wt.% nano zinc oxide concentration, while the highest antibacterial rates for both the bacteria were recorded at 2wt.% nano zinc oxide concentration. Overall, the experimental findings show that addition of nano zinc oxide enhances both the mechanical and antibacterial properties of the composite material.

Keywords: Mechanical, Antibacterial, Hand layup, Room temperature.