Two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials as molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), and their hybrid (MoS2/h-BN) were employed as fillers to improve the physical properties of epoxy composites. Nanocomposites were produced in different concentrations and studied in their microstructure, mechanical and thermal properties. The hybrid 2D mixture imparted efficient reinforcement to the epoxy leading to increases of up to 95% in tensile strength, 60% in ultimate strain, and 58% in Young's modulus. Moreover, an enhancement of 203% in thermal conductivity was achieved for the hybrid composite as compared to the pure polymer. The incorporation of MoS2/h-BN mixture nanofillers in epoxy resulted in nanocomposites with multifunctional characteristics for applications that require high mechanical and thermal performance.
Keywords: hexagonal boron nitride; hybrid epoxy nanocomposite; mechanical reinforcement; molybdenum disulfide; thermal conductivity.