Abstract
The present study aims to improve the mechanical properties of epoxy composite by incorporating supported ionic liquid silica (IL-silica). The IL-silica not only showed improved interfacial interaction and reinforcement, but also served as cure agent of epoxy composites. The differential scanning calorimetry analysis revealed that epoxy composites could be successfully cured with IL-silica without any routine curing agents. IL-silica/epoxy composites presented higher mechanical and thermal properties compared with epoxy composite containing un-functionalized silica (u-silica). The dynamic mechanical analysis showed that the storage modulus of composites significantly increased with the addition of IL-silica in comparison to that with added u-silica, as well as the variation of Tg parameter. The incorporation of IL-silica simultaneously enhanced the tensile strength, toughness, and thermal stability of the epoxy composites. The considerable improvements in mechanical and thermal properties are ascribed to the improved dispersion of IL-silica and the enhanced interfacial interactions between epoxy matrix and IL-silica by strong covalent bonding, which results in an effective load transfer.
Highlights
At present, silica particles are widely employed as fillers to reinforce polymer composites.Silica particles can enhance the mechanical properties and overall performance of polymer composites [1,2]
This work focuses on supported ionic liquid silica (IL-silica), in an attempt to achieve uniform dispersion and strengthened interfacial bonding of epoxy composites
This study study demonstrated demonstrated supported supported ionic ionic liquid liquid silica silica (IL-silica)
Summary
Silica particles are widely employed as fillers to reinforce polymer composites. Addition ofalready nanofillers—especially silica reinforcing effects on the mechanical properties of epoxy resin, especially impact resistance and particles—has already provided significant reinforcing effects on the mechanical properties of epoxy fracture toughness [19,20]. Another challenge in employing silica agglomerates would result in a reduction of the toughness, when the volume fraction is the weak interfacial bonding between silica and polymer matrix, resulting in the deleterious is high Another challenge in employing silica is the weak interfacial bonding between silica and effect of silica-reinforced composite [23,24]. This work focuses on supported ionic liquid silica (IL-silica), in an attempt to achieve uniform dispersion and strengthened interfacial bonding of epoxy composites.
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