Fracture and Structural Integrity e-ISSN 1971-8993 Open access
Integrity of materials and structures Vol. 19, No. 74 (2025)

Assessment of mechanical, fracture and thermal properties of epoxy nanocomposites reinforced with low-concentration nano Boron Carbide (B4C)

Author and affiliation details
  • Akshata Ganji School of Mechanical Engineering, KLE Technological University, Hubballi, India
  • Mantesh Choukimath School of Mechanical Engineering, KLE Technological University, Hubballi, India ORCID iD0000-0001-7696-6037
  • N.R. Banapurmath Centre of Excellence in Material Science, School of Mechanical Engineering, KLE Technological University, Hubballi-580031, India. School of Mechanical Engineering, KLE Technological University, Hubballi-580031, India. ORCID iD0000-0002-1280-6234
  • M.A. Umarfarooq Corresponding author Center for Material Science, Karpagam Academy of Higher Education, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641 021, India. Department of Mechanical Engineering Karpagam Academy of Higher Education, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641 021, India. ORCID iD0000-0002-9369-7913 umarfarooq.ma@gmail.com
  • Adavayya Chikkamath School of Mechanical Engineering, KLE Technological University, Hubballi, India ORCID iD0009-0007-4387-3337
  • Ashok M. Sajjan Centre of Excellence in Material Science, School of Mechanical Engineering, KLE Technological University, Hubballi-580031, India. ORCID iD0000-0003-1251-8803
  • K. Rajesh Department of Robotics and Automation, Symbiosis Institute of Technology, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Lavale, Pune-412115, Maharashtra, India,
  • Ramesh M. Kenchappanavar ORCID iD0009-0002-4383-9650
  • Kartheek Ravulapati Collins Aerospace, 5935, Pinnacle View Road, Cumming GA 30040, United States
DOI
10.3221/IGF-ESIS.74.26
Pages
421-437
Published
Licence
CC BY 4.0
Published inVol. 19, No. 74 (2025)Go to the issue

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of low concentration (0.1-0.4 wt.%) nano-boron carbide (B4C) reinforcement on the mechanical, thermal and fracture properties of epoxy nanocomposites. The nanocomposites were prepared via solution casting using ultrasonication to ensure proper dispersion of the nanofiller. The characterisation included Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), tensile, flexural, impact and fracture tests. Results showed significant enhancements in mechanical properties. Tensile strength peaked at 31.2 MPa (71% improvement) for 0.3 wt. % B4C, while modulus increased steadily to 1400 MPa (33% improvement). Flexural tests showed a progressive enhancement in bending strength, exhibiting 70.46 MPa (50% improvement) at 0.4 wt. % B4C. Impact strength surged by 62% at 0.4 wt. % and fracture toughness increased steadily, exhibiting 70% improvement. Thermal analysis revealed a higher glass transition temperature (Tg) and improved stability with B4C addition, attributed to restricted polymer chain mobility. SEM images showed improved fracture resistance, with rougher surfaces and smaller cleavage planes indicating effective energy absorption. Finite element (FE) simulations validated experimental tensile and flexural results, with variations within 15%. Statistical analysis confirmed all improvements were significant (p < 0.05).

Keywords

Article history

  1. ReceivedUntil the next stage: 37 days
  2. Revision requestedUntil the next stage: 23 days
  3. RevisedUntil the next stage: 3 days
  4. AcceptedUntil the next stage: 5 days
  5. Published

How to cite

APA

Ganji, A., Choukimath, M., Banapurmath, N., Umarfarooq, M., Chikkamath, A., Sajjan, A. M., Rajesh, K., Ramesh M. Kenchappanavar, & Ravulapati, K. (2025). Assessment of mechanical, fracture and thermal properties of epoxy nanocomposites reinforced with low-concentration nano Boron Carbide (B4C). Fracture and Structural Integrity, 19(74), 421–437. https://doi.org/10.3221/IGF-ESIS.74.26

IEEE

A. Ganji et al., “Assessment of mechanical, fracture and thermal properties of epoxy nanocomposites reinforced with low-concentration nano Boron Carbide (B4C),” Fracture and Structural Integrity, vol. 19, no. 74, pp. 421–437, 2025, doi: 10.3221/IGF-ESIS.74.26.

MLA

Ganji, Akshata, et al. “Assessment of mechanical, fracture and thermal properties of epoxy nanocomposites reinforced with low-concentration nano Boron Carbide (B4C).” Fracture and Structural Integrity, vol. 19, no. 74, 2025, pp. 421–437. https://doi.org/10.3221/IGF-ESIS.74.26.

Chicago

Ganji, Akshata, Mantesh Choukimath, N.R. Banapurmath, M.A. Umarfarooq, Adavayya Chikkamath, Ashok M. Sajjan, K. Rajesh, Ramesh M. Kenchappanavar, and Kartheek Ravulapati. 2025. “Assessment of mechanical, fracture and thermal properties of epoxy nanocomposites reinforced with low-concentration nano Boron Carbide (B4C).” Fracture and Structural Integrity 19 (74): 421–437. https://doi.org/10.3221/IGF-ESIS.74.26.

Harvard

Ganji, A., Choukimath, M., Banapurmath, N., Umarfarooq, M., Chikkamath, A., Sajjan, A.M., Rajesh, K., Ramesh M. Kenchappanavar and Ravulapati, K. (2025) ‘Assessment of mechanical, fracture and thermal properties of epoxy nanocomposites reinforced with low-concentration nano Boron Carbide (B4C)’, Fracture and Structural Integrity, 19(74), pp. 421–437. doi: 10.3221/IGF-ESIS.74.26.

Vancouver

Ganji A, Choukimath M, Banapurmath N, Umarfarooq M, Chikkamath A, Sajjan AM, et al. Assessment of mechanical, fracture and thermal properties of epoxy nanocomposites reinforced with low-concentration nano Boron Carbide (B4C). Fracture and Structural Integrity. 2025;19(74):421-437. doi:10.3221/IGF-ESIS.74.26

BibTeX

@article{ganji2025, author = {Ganji, Akshata and Choukimath, Mantesh and Banapurmath, N.R. and Umarfarooq, M.A. and Chikkamath, Adavayya and Sajjan, Ashok M. and Rajesh, K. and Ramesh M. Kenchappanavar and Ravulapati, Kartheek}, title = {Assessment of mechanical, fracture and thermal properties of epoxy nanocomposites reinforced with low-concentration nano Boron Carbide (B4C)}, journal = {Fracture and Structural Integrity}, year = {2025}, volume = {19}, number = {74}, pages = {421--437}, doi = {10.3221/IGF-ESIS.74.26}, url = {https://doi.org/10.3221/IGF-ESIS.74.26}, issn = {1971-8993} }

RIS

TY - JOUR AU - Ganji, Akshata AU - Choukimath, Mantesh AU - Banapurmath, N.R. AU - Umarfarooq, M.A. AU - Chikkamath, Adavayya AU - Sajjan, Ashok M. AU - Rajesh, K. AU - Ramesh M. Kenchappanavar AU - Ravulapati, Kartheek TI - Assessment of mechanical, fracture and thermal properties of epoxy nanocomposites reinforced with low-concentration nano Boron Carbide (B4C) JO - Fracture and Structural Integrity T2 - Fracture and Structural Integrity PY - 2025 DA - 2025/09/21 VL - 19 IS - 74 SP - 421 EP - 437 DO - 10.3221/IGF-ESIS.74.26 UR - https://doi.org/10.3221/IGF-ESIS.74.26 SN - 1971-8993 ER -

Licence

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

May be shared and adapted, provided appropriate credit is given. Copyright © 2025 Akshata Ganji, Mantesh Choukimath, N.R. Banapurmath, M.A. Umarfarooq, Adavayya Chikkamath, Ashok M. Sajjan, K. Rajesh, Ramesh M. Kenchappanavar, Kartheek Ravulapati.

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