Investigation of impact behavior of epoxy reinforced with nanometer- and micrometer-sized silicon carbide particles

Abstract

The effects of particle size and silane treatment on the impact strength are experimentally evaluated for epoxy reinforced with nanometer- and micrometer-sized SiC particles. These nano and microcomposites are fabricated using two different sizes of SiC particles: 60–100 nm and 2–4 mm in diameter. The weight fraction of particles is fixed at 1.5% and the particles are dispersed using ultrasonication. For the purpose of investigating the effect of particle–matrix adhesion on the failure process, composites are fabricated using both as received and silane treated SiC particles and γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane is used as an organofunctional coupling agent to control adhesion properties. Impact energy is measured using Frank IZod impact pendulum instrument. Additionally, fractured surfaces are observed under a scanning electron microscope to investigate particle bonding, particle dispersion, and toughening mechanism. Particle size along with dispersion and bonding are observed to affect the impact strength. It is observed that both the improved particle dispersion and bonding due to silane treatment lead to an increase in impact strength. With regards to particle size, the composites with nanometer-sized SiC particles are having greater impact strength compared to micrometer-sized particles.

Keywords

Polymer–matrix composites epoxy resin SiC silane

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Simpson

Sue Ann Bidstrup

. Rheological and dielectric changes during isothermal epoxy-amine cure. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 1995; 33: 55–62.

Barton

Hamerton

Howlin

. Studies of cure schedule and final property relationships of a commercial epoxy resin using modified imidazole curing agents. Polymer 1998; 39: 1929–1937.

Aurrekoetxea

Agirregomezkorta

Aretxaga

. Impact behavior of carbon fiber/epoxy composite manufactured by vaccum-assisted compression resin transfer molding. J Compos Mater 2012; 46: 43–49.

Youesi

Bahrololoom

. Effect of molecular weight, particle size, and ringer’s solution on mechanical properties of surface-treated polypropylene-hydroxyapatite biocomposites. J Compos Mater 2010; 44: 2785–2799.

Zeng

. Synergistic effect of nano-and micrometer-size ceramic fibers on the tribological and thermal properties of automotive brake lining. J Reinf Plast Compos 2010; 29: 2732–2743.

Singh D, Kumar A and Rai KN. Nanosil strengthening of PMMA composite panels. J Thermoplast Compos Mater. Epub ahead of print 16 August 2011. DOI: 10.1177/0892705711412648.

Singh

Jayasimha

Kumar

. Preparation of poly(methyl methacrylate) nanocomposites with superior impact strength. J Appl Polym Sci 2011; 105: 3183–3194.

Akatsuka

Takezawa

Amagi

. Influence of inorganic fillers on curing reactions of epoxy resins initiated with a boron trifluoride amine complex. Polymer 2001; 42: 3003–3007.

Luo

Zheng

. Effect of curing degree and fillers on slurry erosion behavior of fusion-bonded epoxy powder coatings. Wear 2003; 254: 292–297.

10.

Chisholm

Mahfuz

Rangari

. Fabrication and mechanical characterization of carbon/SiC-epoxy nanocomposites. Compos Struct 2005; 67: 115–124.

11.

Mirmohseni

Zavareh

. Preparation and characterization of an epoxy nanocomposites toughened by a combination of thermoplastic, layered and particulate nano-fillers. Mater Des 2010; 31: 2699–2706.

12.

Olmos

Aznar

Gonzalez-benito

. Kinetic study of the epoxy curing at the silica particles/epoxy interface using the fluorescence of pyrene label. Polym Test 2005; 24: 275–283.

13.

Hong

. DSC and FTIR analysis of the curing behaviors of epoxy/DICY/solvent open systems. Thermochim Acta 1998; 316: 167–175.

14.

Kavitha

Balasubramanian Deval Vashistha

. Synthesis and characterization of nano silicon carbide powder from agricultural waste. Trans Indian Ceram Soc 2001; 70: 71–77.

15.

Zhou

Wang

Mingyuan

. Study of the thermal conduction mechanism of nano-SiC/DGEBA/EMI-2,4 composites. Polymer 2008; 49: 4666–4672.

16.

Mensitieri

Lavaorgna

Musto

. Water transport in densely crosslinked networks: a comparison between epoxy systems having different interactive characters. Polymer 2006; 47: 8326–8336.

17.

Wong

Nirmal

Lim

. Impact behavior of short and continuous fiber-reinforced polyester composites. J Reinf Plast Compos 2010; 29: 3463–3474.

18.

Youesi

Bahrololoom

. Effect of polypropylene molecular weight, hydroxyapatite particle size, and Ringer’s solution on creep and impact behavior of polypropylene-surface treated hydroxyapatite biocomposites. J Compos Mater 2010; 45: 513–523.

19.

Wetzel

Rosso

Haupert

. Epoxy nanocomposites – fracture and toughening mechanisms. Eng Fract Mech 2006; 73: 2375–2398.

20.

Roulin Moloney

. Fractography and failure mechanisms of polymers and composites, London: Elsevier applied science, 1989, pp. 505–505.

21.

Jawaid Abdul Khalil

HPS

Abu Bakar

. Hybrid composites of oil palm empty fruit bunches/woven jute fuber: chemical resistance, physical, and impact properties. J Compos Mater 2011; 45: 2515–2522.

22.

Rothon

. Particulate filled polymer composites, 4th edn. Shropshire, UK: Rapra technology limited, 2003, pp. 391–391.

23.

Zhang

Dang

. Preparation and mechanical properties researches of silane coupling reagent modified beta-silicon carbide filled epoxy composites. Polym Bull 2009; 62: 689–697.

24.

Abenojar

Del Real

Martinez

. Effect of silane treatment on SiC particles used as reinforcement in epoxy resins. J Adhes 2009; 85: 287–301.