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Fabrication of functionally graded nano‐TiO 2 ‐reinforced epoxy matrix composites
Author(s) -
Wang Yi,
Ni QingQing,
Zhu Yaofeng,
Natsuki Toshiaki
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
polymer composites
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.577
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1548-0569
pISSN - 0272-8397
DOI - 10.1002/pc.22695
Subject(s) - materials science , composite material , epoxy , composite number , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , silane , curing (chemistry) , nano , x ray photoelectron spectroscopy , scanning electron microscope , chemical engineering , engineering
Functionally graded nano‐TiO 2 epoxy matrix composites were successfully fabricated using a centrifugal method. In the preparation of the composite, the aggregation of nano‐TiO 2 occurred during curing, which had a negative effect on the composite performance. To solve this problem, we introduced a silane coupling agent to modify the surface of the nano‐TiO 2 , thereby improving the performance and mechanical properties simultaneously. The modified nano‐TiO 2 (s‐TiO 2 ) had better dispersion in the epoxy resin, making it possible to produce depth gradients of the mechanical properties of functionally graded materials (FGMs). The s‐TiO 2 was characterized with respect to functional groups, morphology, and chemical elements using transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy. The results show that a silane layer was successfully coated on the surface. Also, the gradients of the mechanical and permittivity properties of the FGM indicated that by modifying the surface of the nano‐filler, it is possible to fabricate nano‐filler‐reinforced epoxy matrix FGMs using a centrifugal method. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:557–563, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers