Nanoindentation Studies of Nano Alumina-Reinforced Ether-Linked Bismaleimide Toughened Epoxy-Based Nanocomposites

Abstract

The scope of the present work is to toughen the commercial epoxy resin using ether linked bismaleimide (e-BMI) with varying chain lengths C4 and C8. The C4 e-BMI toughened system proves to exhibit synergistic effect on both tensile and impact strengths. Hence the secondary objective of the work is to study the effect of nano alumina on C4 e-BMI toughened epoxy. To overcome the disadvantages generated by the loose nanoparticle agglomerates dispersed in polymer composite, the nanoparticles were functionalized using 3- Glycidoxypropylmethoxysilane (GPS). The nanoindentation behavior of the C4 e-BMI epoxy matrix filled with GPS alumina was studies using Nanoindentation. The strengthening of the matrix interaction by the means of covalent bonding and better dispersion of nanoparticles resulted in enhanced nanohardness and elastic modulus. The addition of GPS Al₂O₃ nanoparticles to 15 wt.% C4 e-BMI/epoxy matrix increases the nanohardness and elastic modulus up to 5 wt.% of filler loading beyond which the hardness and elastic modulus decrease.

Keywords:

• Bismaleimides
• Dynamic mechanical analysis
• Interpenetrating network
• Nanohardness
• Toughened epoxy

Notes

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