Mechanical and thermal performance of epoxy nanocomposites reinforced with teak-sawdust-derived carbon nanospheres

A polymer matrix nanocomposite was fabricated using sustainably derived, porous carbon nanospheres (CNS), a green nanomaterial synthesized from bio-waste teak-wood sawdust (TW). The CNS were prepared through a one-step pyrolysis process at three different temperatures – 500, 700, and 1000 °C. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the CNS obtained at 1000 °C (TW1000) exhibited the smallest average particle size, ranging from 40 to 50 nm, along with a higher degree of carbonization. These TW1000 CNS were incorporated into a commercial-grade LY5052 epoxy matrix at varying loadings of 0.05, 0.1, and 0.3 wt%. This work investigates the use of teak-wood-derived porous carbon nanospheres as sustainable nanofillers for epoxy composites at low filler loadings (0.05–0.30 wt%), with particular emphasis on their performance under elevated-temperature conditions. The composites were evaluated through tensile testing to assess their mechanical performance and structural integrity. The 0.1 wt% TW1000 CNS/epoxy composite demonstrated the best combination of tensile strength and ductility, showing a significant improvement compared to the neat epoxy. The composite also retained its mechanical properties after exposure from room temperature to 300 °C for one hour at different intervals, indicating excellent thermal resistance. Furthermore, thermogravimetric analysis confirmed the composite’s thermal stability up to 300 °C, highlighting its suitability for high-temperature and multifunctional applications.