Epoxy resin/SiC nanocomposites. Synthesis and characterization
Vijayan Poornima, Sabu Thomas, Andrzej Huczko
Quarterly No. 1, 2010 pages 11-14
DOI:
keywords: epoxy resin, SiC, SHS, nanocomposites, nanofibers, synthesis
abstract The sulicon carbide (SiC) nanofibers were produced by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS). Silicon and polytetrafluoroethylene (TEFLON™) powdered mixture was used as starting reactants. The raw product was chemically processed to isolate and purify SiC nanofibers, several nm in diameter and a length in a micron range. The nanomaterial was used to reinforce epoxy thermosets. Epoxy resin/SiC nanocomposites were prepared by using either ultrasonication or high shear mixing procedures. The dispersion and flexural properties of the nanocomposites prepared by two methods were evaluated and compared. Ultrasonication, in comparison to shear mixing method, yielded superior nanoscale dispersion according to scanning electron microscopy (SEM). As a result of the improvements in nanoscale dispersion, the corresponding improvements in flexural strength and modulus of produced composites were achieved. The better dispersion of SiC nanofibers and properties were obtained with nanocomposite containing 0.25 Phr (parts per hundred epoxy resin) nanomaterial. Thus, even such a low content of 1-D nanomaterial distinctly improves the properties of a composite.