Due to a combination of high strength and lightweight, epoxy nanocomposites are exceedingly useful in aerospace, automobile, electronic and sporting equipment applications. These materials are increasingly important for mesoscale requirements in order to manage discrepancies between the thermal expansion coefficient and reinforcement and macroscale requirements to alleviate residual stresses resulting from volume changes in real-life materials used. Favorable interactions between the matrix and filler generally lead to enhanced physical (thermal and mechanical) properties, which can be further tailored by the shape and size of the nanofiller and the quality of the dispersion. In general, mixing of components is unfavourable due to the loss of entropy; however, entropy loss can be overcome by making one (or both) of the components more similar to each other. In this case, an epoxy matrix (Epon 828) is cured with a multi-functional amine (EPICURE 3270). To generate the nanofilled composites, we use anthracene, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), to tailor physical properties. PAH incorporation is achieved by physical blending or through reactive mixtures. For reactive mixtures, Epon 828 is modified with 2-aminoanthracene and subsequently cured with the un-bound PAH. In this vein, 2-aminoanthracene reacts with some of the epoxy groups, which in turn, chemically modifies the matrix and subsequently provides interactive sites for the nanofiller to form stronger physical interactions with the matrix. Our results show strong reinforcement through the enhancement of the glass transition temperature (Tg) and degradation temperature at a critical volume of anthracene/2-aminoanthracene incorporation. We also observe varying thermal expansion and contraction by Thermomechanical Analysis (TMA). 

Thermal and mechanical analysis of anthracene-filled epoxy nanocomposites

248th National Meeting (2014)

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