Effect of temperature on electrical behavior of flyash-filled epoxy gradient composites

Abstract

Functionally gradient composites of epoxy resin having different weight percentages of flyash were prepared under centrifugal force to obtain gradient in density, hardness, and electrical properties. Effect of temperature and frequency variation on dielectric constant (ε′), tan δ, and ac conductivity was determined by using a 4274 A Multi-Frequency LCR meter. Electrical measurements were carried out in a temperature range from 40 to 180°C and in a frequency range from 1 to 100 kHz. It was observed that the dielectric constant and tan δ increased with increase in temperature and decreased with increase in frequency. The ac conductivity increases with increase in temperature and frequency. The increased weight percentage of flyash increased the compaction of flyash particle in the flyash-rich phase of graded composites, which would have increased the dielectric constant (ε′), tan δ, and ac conductivity. Shore D hardness and density of the functionally gradient composites has also been determined and reported. A continuous increase in the hardness from 69 to 76 and density from 1.287 to 1.41 g/cc has been observed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 1269–1276, 2006