Effect of Ti3C2Tx MXene Incorporation on the Mechanical Performance and Microstructural Characteristics of Bulk Molding Compound Composites

Abstract

Bulk molding compound (BMC) composites are widely used in engineering applications; however, improving their mechanicalresponse through low-content nanoscale modification remains challenging for highly filled thermoset molding systems. In thisstudy, Ti 3 C 2 Tx MXene was incorporated into an industrial BMC formulation under unchanged compression-molding conditionsto investigate its influence on mechanical and microstructural characteristics. The unmodified BMC and composites containing0.238, 0.476, and 0.714 wt.% MXene were characterized using tensile testing, Izod impact testing, Shore D hardness, FTIR, XRD,TEM, SEM, and SEM–EDS. Ti 3 C 2 Tx MXene addition improved the mechanical response within the investigated low-contentrange. The average tensile strength increased from 14.24 MPa for unmodified BMC to 24.00 MPa for the 0.714 wt.% MXene-addedcomposite, a 68.6% improvement. The tensile modulus increased from 7.85 to 10.14 GPa, absorbed impact energy increased byup to 52.6%, and Shore D hardness increased from 70.6 to 75.8. TEM provided local evidence of MXene-related layered andpartially overlapped regions, while SEM–EDS supported Ti-containing MXene-related regions in powder mixtures and moldedbulk composites. BMC/MXene- 0.71 exhibited the highest average mechanical values, whereas BMC/MXene- 0.48 showed a morerepeatable mechanical response and a comparatively balanced distribution tendency.