Using dispersion and wetting control to improve interfacial and mechanical properties of carbon fiber/modified nano-SiC epoxy composites

Abstract

Significant improvements in mechanical properties (particularly stiffness) results from the appropriate addition of micro-carbon fibers in the nano- and hetero-structures of modified nano-SiC filled epoxy matrix composites. The optimum dispersion conditions were found to be significantly dependent both the amount of nano-SiC filler and the sonication time. To investigate these dispersion effects, composites were fabricated with 5 different nano-SiC filler concentrations and compared to the untreated composite. Changes in electrical capacitance were used as a measure of the comparative degree of dispersion in these nano-SiC-epoxy composites. FE-SEM was used to observe the interfacial changes for the different surface conditions, and the mechanical damage was evaluated by inspection of fractured surfaces. Optimal conditions of dispersion, interfacial adhesion and aspect ratio of the modified nano-SiC fillers were found to improve the composites mechanical properties. Copyright 2014. Used by the Society of the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering with permission.