Influence of low filler content on some thermomechanical properties of particulate epoxy composites simulated by a variant tetra-phase model

The influence of low filler content on some thermomechanical properties of particulate composites was determined. A variant of a previously developed theoretical model valid for low filler contents was used to evaluate the elastic modulus and thermal expansion coefficient of a particulate composite. In the experiments, filler volume fractions of 3, 5, 7 and 10% were used. The density and the velocity of longitudinal waves in these iron particle epoxy resin composites were also determined. An attempt has been made to explain qualitatively some of the discrepancies observed between theoretical models and experimental data. This approach was in part assisted by scanning electron microscopy observation of structural inhomogeneities and fractographic data. The theoretical values derived from the present model agreed satisfactorily with the experimental results and with theoretical values of other workers.