Experimental Investigation and Optimization of Wollastonite and Tungsten Disulfide Reinforced Epoxy Composites by AHP-TOPSIS Approach

This work aims to develop and study the behavior of epoxy resin composites with two different microfillers. Epoxy composites are fabricated using the magnetic stirring technique by varying weight percentages of tungsten disulfide (WS2), a solid lubricant with a fixed weight percentage of wollastonite (CaSiO3), a ceramic reinforcement. The study investigates the effect of CaSiO3 and WS2 on the physical, mechanical, and thermal properties of epoxy composites. The experimental findings indicate that the inclusion of fillers significantly improves the flexural strength, thermal stability, and hardness of the epoxy composites. The Coats Redfern method was also considered for activation energy analysis of epoxy composites. Furthermore, the physical, mechanical, and thermal properties of filler-based epoxy composites are optimized using a hybrid of the analytic hierarchy process and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (AHP-TOPSIS). The order of performance attributes according to AHP is density > hardness > tensile strength > flexural strength > impact strength, whereas as per TOPSIS, it is revealed that composite C3 (94 wt. % epoxy + 2 wt. % CaSiO3 + 4 wt. % WS2) emerged as the best material.