ABSTRACT
Performance of the thermoset- and thermoplastic-based composite materials can be improved by the addition of fillers to the resin. The influence of inorganic fillers such as metallic nanoparticles and carbon nanotube (CNT) on the thermal, dielectric, physical, and mechanical properties of the thermoset- and thermoplastic-based polymers has been discussed. The enhancement in properties depends on the inherent characteristic of the filler like size, density, and dispersion within the matrix. Moreover, the filler concentration was also found to influence the material properties and failure behavior of the composites. The results from various researchers indicate that inorganic fillers can be added in small quantity with the resin to obtain significant improvement in various properties of the composite. Usage of inorganic fillers in the thermoset- and thermoplastic-based composites is mainly limited by the higher cost required for synthesizing and modifying these fillers.
