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Indexed by:Journal Papers

Date of Publication:2015-12-15

Journal:MATERIALS & DESIGN

Included Journals:SCIE

Volume:87

Page Number:10-16

ISSN No.:0264-1275

Key Words:Epoxy resin; Fe2O3 nanoparticles; Surface modification; Mechanical properties

Abstract:Epoxy nanocomposite (ENC) reinforced with Fe2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) has been prepared. The surface properties of Fe2O3 NPs were turned using poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP) and (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) as modified agent Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) tests revealed that PVP and APTES have been successfully grafted to the surface of Fe2O3 NPs. The modified Fe2O3 NPs were monodisperse in epoxy matrix as determined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). FTIR measurements for ENCs indicated that modified Fe2O3 NPs were covalently incorporated into epoxy networks. A disproportionate increase in mechanical properties of the obtained ENCs was observed with the increased modified Fe2O3 NPs loading. When 4 wt.% modified Fe2O3 NPs were introduced, the tensile strength was increased by 50.2% and the fracture toughness, which expressed as stress intensity factor (K-IC), was significantly increased by 106% based on single-edge notch bend test. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.