Investigating the Effect of Nickel‐Titanium Alloying Particles on the Mechanical and Tribological Properties of Epoxy Composites

ABSTRACT

In this study, NiTi alloy particles (NiTip) were incorporated into epoxy resins for the improvement of their mechanical properties, thermal stability, and tribological properties. The unique shape memory and super‐elastic properties of NiTip make them an ideal reinforcement for polymer composites. NiTip/epoxy composites were prepared and characterized using simple physics. The results show that the mechanical properties of the epoxy were improved by adding appropriate amounts of NiTip, including a 12.1% increase in its tensile strength by adding 1.0 vol% NiTip, and the shear strength of the epoxy was increased by 109.8% by adding 3.0 vol% of NiTip. The fracture toughness and Young's modulus of the epoxy composites were effectively improved by the addition of NiTip. The NiTip/epoxy composites also exhibit good thermal stability, with higher glass transition and initial decomposition temperatures than pure epoxy. In addition, the tribological properties of the composites are significantly improved, with reductions in friction coefficients and wear. The observed improvements in the mechanical, thermal and tribological properties of the NiTip/epoxy composites can be attributed to the unique properties of the NiTi alloy particles, including their high strength and toughness, shape memory and superelasticity. These results suggest that NiTip have great potential for reinforcing polymer composites and could find applications in a variety of fields including aerospace, automotive, and biomedical.