The Effect of Micron-Rubber and Nano-Silica Particles on the Fatigue Crack Growth Behavior of an Epoxy Polymer

Manjunatha, CM and Jagannathan, N and Padmalatha, K and Kinloch, AJ and Taylor, AC (2011) The Effect of Micron-Rubber and Nano-Silica Particles on the Fatigue Crack Growth Behavior of an Epoxy Polymer. International Journal of Nanoscience, 10 (4&5). pp. 1095-1099. ISSN 0219-581X

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Abstract

A thermosetting epoxy polymer was hybrid-modi¯ed by incorporating 9 wt.% of CTBN rubber micro particles and 10 wt.% of silica nano-particles. The unmodi¯ed and the hybrid-modi¯ed resins were poured into steel moulds and cured to produce bulk epoxy polymer sheets from which standard compact tension test specimens were machined. Fatigue crack growth tests were conducted using a 50 kN servo-hydraulic test machine, with the following test parameters: stress ratio, R ¼ �min/�max ¼ 0:1, sinusoidal waveform and frequency, � ¼ 3 Hz. The crack length was monitored by a compliance technique. The fracture surfaces were observed in a high resolution scanning electron microscope. The fatigue crack growth rate of the hybrid epoxy polymer was observed to be signi¯cantly lower than that of the unmodi¯ed epoxy polymer. The threshold stress intensity factor range, �Kth, of the epoxy polymer was observed to increase by the addition of micron-rubber and nano-silica particles. The energy dissipating mechanisms viz, (i) cavitation of the rubber microparticles followed by plastic-deformation and void growth of the epoxy and, (ii) silica nanoparticle debonding followed by plastic-deformation and void growth of the epoxy, were observed to be operative and contribute for the reduced crack growth rate in the hybrid epoxy polymer.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	CHEMISTRY AND MATERIALS > Composite Materials ENGINEERING > Engineering (General)
Depositing User:	Mr Jagannathan N
Date Deposited:	16 Jan 2012 08:25
Last Modified:	18 Aug 2015 07:48
URI:	http://nal-ir.nal.res.in/id/eprint/10234

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