Epoxy/imidazole functionalized silica epoxy nanocomposites: Mechanical and fracture behaviour

In this work, the mechanical and fracture performance of epoxy nanocomposites consisting of epoxide and imidazole functionalized silica nanoparticles has been studied. The post-synthesis grafting method was utilized to functionalized SiO2 nanoparticles with GPTMS (GGS) and used them as reinforcement...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inExpress polymer letters Vol. 15; no. 3; pp. 203 - 223
Main Authors Prasad, T., Halder, S., Dhar, S. S., Goyat, M. S.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Budapest Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Polymer Engineering 01.03.2021
Budapest University of Technology
Subjects
cure index
Curing
Epoxy matrix composites
Epoxy resins
Ethanol
Failure investigations
Flexural strength
Fracture toughness
Imidazole
Impact strength
interface
Material properties
Modulus of rupture in bending
Nanocomposites
Nanoparticles
Silicon dioxide
Solvents
Tensile strength
Tires
India
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Summary:In this work, the mechanical and fracture performance of epoxy nanocomposites consisting of epoxide and imidazole functionalized silica nanoparticles has been studied. The post-synthesis grafting method was utilized to functionalized SiO2 nanoparticles with GPTMS (GGS) and used them as reinforcement (0-2 wt%) in epoxy resin. The cure behavior of nanocomposites demonstrated that the composite has excellent cure capability at 0.5 wt% of GGS. The composite containing 0.5 wt% of GGS exhibited significant improvement in tensile strength (~65 %) and modulus of toughness (~272 %), respectively. Additionally, the flexural strength, flexural modulus, and work of flexural were enhanced by ~48, ~50, and ~48%, respectively. Interestingly, the GGS showed its tremendous potential to improve the fracture toughness (K1C) and the fracture energy (G1C) of the nanocomposite by ~97 and ~292 %, which is also evident by the study of cure behavior. The fractography analysis endorsed the enhancement of material properties due to the use of GGS in the epoxy matrix. Failure investigation examined under FESEM elucidated forced the crack to move around the poles of the nanoparticles due to better interfacial adhesion. Hence, GGS nanoparticle has the potential to use as an excellent cost-effective reinforcement for the epoxy matrix to mitigate the brittle failure in epoxy composites.
ISSN:1788-618X
1788-618X
DOI:10.3144/expresspolymlett.2021.19