Enhancing mechanical performance of epoxy composites with h-BN-doped carbon fabric reinforcement

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) nanoparticle reinforcement on the thermal and mechanical properties of carbon fabric-reinforced epoxy matrix composites. Composites were fabricated using 3 K plain-woven carbon fabrics by the hand lay-up and vacuum bagging technique, with h-BN added in varying weight ratios (0 wt.%, 1 wt.%, 2 wt.% and 4 wt.%). Mechanical characterization, including tensile, flexural, and Izod impact tests, was conducted in accordance with ASTM standards. The results revealed that a 1 wt.% h-BN addition yielded the highest tensile strength (638.16 MPa) and the maximum flexural strength (554.5 MPa). Higher filler loadings enhanced ductility but reduced tensile and flexural strengths due to particle agglomeration. Flexural properties showed slight improvement at low h-BN concentrations, followed by a decline at higher loadings, consistent with literature findings. Impact resistance increased steadily with higher h-BN content, with the maximum impact strength obtained for the 4 wt.% h-BN reinforced composite (64.9 kJ/m²), attributable to improved energy dissipation and enhanced fiber–matrix interfacial bonding. The study concludes that optimized h-BN incorporation can enhance both toughness and impact resistance while preserving the structural integrity of laminated composites.