Investigation of mechanical properties and thermal expansion coefficient of epoxy composites modified with MXene nanofluids

Epoxy resin (EP) is a highly promising material with great potential in packaging and adhesion. However, enhancing the toughness and reducing the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of EP at a low filler content remains a challenge. To address this issue, we designed MXene nanofluids (MXene NFs) to modify epoxy resin. Remarkably, with a low filler content of 1 wt% MXene NFs, the compression, impact, and lap shear strength of the composites improved to 86.85 MPa, 68.87 kJ/m², and 11.12 MPa, respectively. Additionally, the MXene NFs/EP displayed a 15.48% reduction in CTE as compared to pure EP. This study highlights the immense potential of MXene NFs as practical fillers for epoxy composites, expanding their diverse range of applications in various fields.