Showing papers on "Epoxy published in 2011"

Silica-Like Malleable Materials from Permanent Organic Networks

Abstract: Permanently cross-linked materials have outstanding mechanical properties and solvent resistance, but they cannot be processed and reshaped once synthesized Non–cross-linked polymers and those with reversible cross-links are processable, but they are soluble We designed epoxy networks that can rearrange their topology by exchange reactions without depolymerization and showed that they are insoluble and processable Unlike organic compounds and polymers whose viscosity varies abruptly near the glass transition, these networks show Arrhenius-like gradual viscosity variations like those of vitreous silica Like silica, the materials can be wrought and welded to make complex objects by local heating without the use of molds The concept of a glass made by reversible topology freezing in epoxy networks can be readily scaled up for applications and generalized to other chemistries

In situ preparation of functionalized graphene oxide/epoxy nanocomposites with effective reinforcements

Abstract: In order to obtain homogeneous dispersion and strong filler-matrix interface in epoxy resin, graphene oxide was functionalized via surface modification by hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene and glycidol and then incorporated into epoxy resin to obtain nanocomposites via in situ thermal polymerization. The morphology of nanocomposites was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, implying good dispersion of graphene nano-sheets. The incorporation of functionalized graphene oxide effectively enhanced various property performances of epoxy nanocomposites. The storage modulus of the epoxy nanocomposites was significantly increased by 113% (2% addition) and the hardness was improved by 38% (4% addition). Electrical conductivity was improved by 6.5 orders of magnitude. Enhanced thermal stability was also achieved. This work demonstrates a cost-effective approach to construct a flexible interphase structure, strong interfacial interaction and good dispersion of functionalized graphene in epoxy nanocomposites through a local epoxy-rich environment around graphene oxide sheets, which reinforces the polymer properties and indicates further application in research and industrial areas.

Physical aging of epoxy polymers and their composites

Abstract: Exposure to extended periods of sub-Tg temperatures causes physical changes in the molecular structure of epoxy resins and epoxy-based materials to occur. These physical aging mechanisms include the reduction in free volume and changes to the molecular configuration. As a result, mechanical, thermodynamical, and physical properties are affected in ways that can compromise the reliability of epoxy-based engineering components and structures. In this review, the physical changes in the molecular structure of epoxies are described, and the influence of these changes on the bulk-level response is detailed. Specifically, the influence of physical aging on the quasistatic mechanical properties, viscoelasticity, fracture toughness, thermal expansion coefficient, volume relaxation, enthalpy relaxation, endothermic peak temperature, fictive temperature, and moisture/solvent absorption capability is reviewed. Also discussed are relationships between relaxation functions, crosslink density, composite reinforcement, and epoxy/copolymer blending and the physical aging response of epoxies. Finally, the concepts of thermal and mechanical rejuvenation are discussed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011

Covalent incorporation of aminated nanodiamond into an epoxy polymer network.

Abstract: Outstanding mechanical and optical properties of diamond nanoparticles in combination with their biocompatibility have recently attracted much attention. Modification of the surface chemistry and incorporation into a polymer is required in many applications of the nanodiamond. Nanodiamond powder with reactive amino groups (∼20% of the number of surface carbon atoms in each 5 nm particle) was produced in this work by covalent linking of ethylenediamine to the surface carboxyl groups via amide bonds. The synthesized material was reacted with epoxy resin, yielding a composite, in which nanodiamond particles are covalently incorporated into the polymer matrix. The effect of amino groups grafted on the nanodiamond on the curing chemistry of the epoxy resin was analyzed and taken into consideration. Covalently bonded nanodiamond–epoxy composites showed a three times higher hardness, 50% higher Young’s modulus, and two times lower creep compared to the composites in which the nanodiamond was not chemically linke...

Graphite Oxides as Effective Fire Retardants of Epoxy Resin

Abstract: Graphite oxides (GOs) at various oxidation states were examined as fire retardants of epoxy resin. Excessive oxidation is detrimental to the fire retardant effect of GO because it generated a weak GO with reduced intumescent ability. GO manifested optimum fire retardant properties when it was properly oxidized due to the effective intumescence, demonstrating that intumescent GO needs to be strong enough to effectively push the epoxy resin matrix apart to cause efficient intumescence and generate a solid remnant char that acts as an efficient barrier. The fire retardant effect of GO was also reduced when a dispersion of GO in the epoxy resin was enhanced by sonication. This shows that the fine dispersion and disordering of layered structure of GO by the intercalation of epoxy molecules into the gallery of GO also reduced the intumescent ability, and the fire retardant effects of GO.

The effect of carbon nanotubes on the fracture toughness and fatigue performance of a thermosetting epoxy polymer

Abstract: Multi-walled carbon nanotubes, with a typical length of 140 μm and a diameter of 120 nm, have been used to modify an anhydride-cured epoxy polymer. The modulus, fracture energy and the fatigue performance of the modified polymers have been investigated. Microscopy showed that these long nanotubes were agglomerated, and that increasing the nanotube content increased the severity of the agglomeration. The addition of nanotubes increased the modulus of the epoxy, but the glass transition temperature was unaffected. The measured fracture energy was also increased, from 133 to 223 J/m2 with the addition of 0.5 wt% of nanotubes. The addition of the carbon nanotubes also resulted in an increase in the fatigue performance. The threshold strain-energy release-rate, G th, increased from 24 J/m2 for the unmodified material to 73 J/m2 for the epoxy with 0.5 wt% of nanotubes. Electron microscopy of the fracture surfaces showed clear evidence of nanotube debonding and pull-out, plus void growth around the nanotubes, in both the fracture and fatigue tests. The modelling study showed that the modified Halpin–Tsai equation can fit very well with the measured values of the Young’s modulus, when the orientation and agglomeration of the nanotubes are considered. The fracture energy of the nanotube-modified epoxies was predicted, by considering the contributions of the toughening mechanisms of nanotube debonding, nanotube pull-out and plastic void growth of the epoxy. This indicated that debonding and pull-out contribute to the toughening effect, but the contribution of void growth is not significant. There was excellent agreement between the predictions and the experimental results.

A biomimetic approach to enhancing interfacial interactions: polydopamine-coated clay as reinforcement for epoxy resin.

Abstract: A facile biomimetic method was developed to enhance the interfacial interaction in polymer-layered silicate nanocomposites. By mimicking mussel adhesive proteins, a monolayer of polydopamine was constructed on clay surface by a controllable coating method. The modified clay (D-clay) was incorporated into an epoxy resin, it is found that the strong interfacial interactions brought by the polydopamine benefits not only the dispersion of the D-clay in the epoxy but also the effective interfacial stress transfer, leading to greatly improved thermomechanical properties at very low inorganic loadings. Rheological and infrared spectroscopic studies show that the interfacial interactions between the D-clay and epoxy are dominated by the hydrogen bonds between the catechol-enriched polydopamine and the epoxy.

Morphological aspects and mechanical properties of single bamboo fibers and flexural characterization of bamboo/epoxy composites

Abstract: A novel mechanical extraction process was developed to obtain long bamboo fibers to be used as reinforcement in structural composites. A single-fiber tensile test at four different span lengths for...

On fracture toughness of nano-particle modified epoxy

Abstract: A systematic study on the effects of silica and rubber nano-particles on the fracture toughness behavior of epoxy was conducted. Mode I fracture toughness ( G IC ) of binary silica/epoxy, binary rubber/epoxy and ternary silica/rubber/epoxy nanocomposites with different particle weight fractions was obtained by compact tension tests. It is found that G IC of epoxy can be significantly increased by incorporating either rubber or silica nano-particles. However, hybrid nanocomposites do not display any “synergistic” effect on toughness. Microstructures before and after fracture testing were examined to understand the role of nano-particles on the toughening mechanisms.

A carbon nanotube/polymer strain sensor with linear and anti-symmetric piezoresistivity

Abstract: In this article, a strain sensor made from an epoxy-based nanocomposite using a kind of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), i.e., LMWNT-10, was investigated. It was found that the piezoresistivi...