[Events] MSSI Research Forum 2010

[Emily.Barrett]

Materials  &  Surface  Science  Institute

Research  Forum  2010

 

 


PRESENTATION  BY


Professor Anthony Kinloch

Imperial College London

 

TITLE  OF  PRESENTATION

 

The Toughness of Epoxy Polymers and Fibre-Composites Modified with
Silica Nanoparticles

 


ABSTRACT


The present seminar discusses the effect of adding silica nanoparticles
to an anhydride-cured epoxy polymer in bulk and when used as the matrix
of carbon- and glass-fibre reinforced composites. The formation of
'hybrid' epoxy polymers, containing both silica nanoparticles and
carboxyl-terminated butadiene-acrylonitrile (CTBN) rubber
microparticles, is also discussed. The structure/property relationships
are considered, with an emphasis on the toughness and the toughening
mechanisms. The fracture energy of the bulk epoxy was increased from 77
to 212 J/m2 by the presence of 20 wt.% of silica nanoparticles. The
observed toughening mechanisms that were operative were (a) plastic
shear-yield bands, and (b) debonding of the matrix from the silica
nanoparticles, followed by plastic void growth of the epoxy. The largest
increases in toughness observed were from the formation of the 'hybrid'
materials.  Here a maximum fracture energy of 965 J/m2 was measured for
a 'hybrid' epoxy polymer containing 9wt.% and 15wt.% of the rubber
microparticles and silica nanoparticles, respectively. These increases
in the toughness of the bulk polymers were found to be transferred to
the fibre composites, and the fracture energy was increased further by a
fibre-bridging toughening mechanism. The cyclic fatigue properties were
also observed to be enhanced. The present work also extends an existing
model to predict the toughening effect of the nanoparticles in a
thermoset polymer. There was excellent agreement between the predictions
and the experimental data for the epoxy containing the silica
nanoparticles, and with micrometre-sized glass particles. The latter,
relatively large, glass particles were investigated to establish whether
a 'nano-effect' with respect to increasing the toughness of the epoxy
bulk polymers did indeed exist.

 


ABOUT  THE  PRESENTER


 

Professor Tony Kinloch DSc (Eng) FREng FRS, holds a personal chair as
'Professor of Adhesion' and is the 'Head of Department' of Mechanical
Engineering at Imperial College London. He also leads the 'Adhesion,
Adhesives and Composites' Research Group. He has published over two
hundred patents and refereed papers in the areas of adhesion and
adhesives, toughened polymers and the fracture of polymers and
fibre-composites; and written and edited seven books in these areas. In
1997 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and in
2007 was elected to the Fellowship of The Royal Society.

 

 

DATE:            Tuesday, 25 May 2010

TIME:            12h00

VENUE:         MSB-012 MSSI Building

 

 


REFRESHMENTS  WILL  BE  PROVIDED  AT  11h45


For further information, please contact:

Dr Teresa Curtin, Tel. No:  (061) 202981 or Email:  teresa.curtin at ul.ie 

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