Mechanical characterization and fractographic study of epoxy-kaolin polymer nanocomposites Academic Article

abstract

• 2015 Elsevier Ltd. In this work the mechanical behavior of composite materials formed by a diepoxy-diamine (epoxy) thermosetting matrix filled with kaolin intercalated with ethylenediamine (K-EDA) was studied. Fracture toughness experiments showed that an addition of 2. wt% K-EDA to the epoxy matrix causes an approximately 24% increase in the critical stress intensity factor (KIC). The study of fracture mechanisms was completed using the double-notch four-point-bending test. The presence of kaolin particles in the matrix induces crack branching and deflection mechanisms. Furthermore, observation of the fracture surface revealed the presence of tails near kaolin particles, which is consistent with crack-pinning. The present study indicates that kaolin clay can be effective in toughening epoxy at small quantities if it is reasonably well dispersed.

authors

• Sue, Hung-Jue

published proceedings

• COMPOSITE STRUCTURES

author list (cited authors)

• Castrillo, P. D., Olmos, D., Sue, H., & Gonzalez-Benito, J.

citation count

• 7

complete list of authors

• Castrillo, PD||Olmos, D||Sue, H-J||Gonzalez-Benito, J

publication date

• January 2015

publisher

• Elsevier  Publisher

published in

• Composite Structures  Journal

keywords

• Double Notch Four-point-bend
• Epoxy
• Fracture Toughness
• Kaolin
• Polymer Composites

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1016/j.compstruct.2015.07.040

start page

• 70

end page

• 76

volume

• 133

URL

• http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1016%2Fj.compstruct.2015.07.040