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Processability studies of silica‐thermoset polymer matrix nanocomposites
Author(s) -
Lekakou C.,
Kontodimopoulos I.,
Murugesh A.K.,
Chen Y.L.,
Jesson D.A.,
Watts J.F.,
Smith P.A.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.20815
Subject(s) - thermosetting polymer , materials science , curing (chemistry) , nanocomposite , polyester , polymer , composite material , solvent , epoxy , dispersion (optics) , dynamic mechanical analysis , nanoparticle , rheology , organic chemistry , nanotechnology , chemistry , physics , optics
The aim of this study is to investigate the processability of silica‐thermoset polymer matrix nanocomposites in terms of dispersion of silica nanoparticles and their effect on curing. Two thermosetting resins were considered, an epoxy and a polyester resin, with 5% silica, although 1% silica was also used in preliminary studies in the polyester system. Various combinations of mechanical mixing and sonication were investigated for the dispersion of silica nanoparticles under different processing conditions and times in solvent‐free and solvent‐containing systems. It was found that the best dispersion route involved a solvent‐aided dispersion technique. Consequently, different procedures for the solvent removal were investigated. Optical microscopy and SEM were used to characterize the resulting nanocomposites. DSC and rheological DMTA tests demonstrated that the silica nanoparticles shorten the gel time and promote curing in these thermosetting systems. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers