Modeling for Predicting and Optimizing MWCNT + SiO2 Hybrid Nanofillers in Basalt/Glass/Polymer Composites for Enhanced Mechanical and Morphological Properties Using Response Surface Methodology

This study examines the effects of sonication duration, molding temperature, and weight percentage of MWCNTs and nano silica (SiO2) on the inter‐laminar shear strength (ILSS) and Izod impact strength of laminate composites composed of glass fiber‐reinforced polymers and basalt. The laminates were made using the manual lay‐up approach and compression molding, with MWCNTs and SiO2 added in equal amounts (0%, 1%, and 2% by weight). The ASTM D256 and D2344 criteria were adhered to while assessing mechanical properties. A total of 29 trials were made utilizing the Box–Behnken Design (BBD) of response surface technique, with the following independent variables: temperature, sonication duration, filler content, and molding pressure. According to an ANOVA analysis, these traits were significant for both ILSS and Izod impact strength. The ANOVA results also showed that the filler weight (A) is the most significant factor affecting the ILSS and Izod impact strength of hybrid nanocomposites, with molding temperature, pressure, and sonication duration coming in second and third, respectively. For design run orders three and eight, the ILSS values expressed were 24 MPa for the minimum and 40 MPa for the maximum. Izod impact strengths were 203 kJ/m2 in design run order 3 and 167 kJ/m2 in design run order 8. The optimal mechanical performance was determined by optimization using Design Expert 13 software at 2% filler content, 20 min of sonication, 5 MPa pressure, and 75°C molding temperature. This resulted in an impact strength of 201.47 kJ/m2 and an ILSS of 40.25 MPa. When compared to the samples with the lowest performance, these findings show improvements of 40% and 18%, respectively. Additionally, the morphological features of cracked surfaces were revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examination, which shed light on the structural integrity of the composite.