Epoxy resin is a thermosetting material. A curing process are achieved by reaction of epoxy itself or by reaction with the hardener. many of epoxy require heat about 180°C. During the curing process, chemical reactions occur and the structure of the material changed from a liquid type to a cross-linked solid type. The structure that formed by curing determine the chemical, mechanical properties associated with the degree of curing. The formation of these chemical cross-links induce the volumetric shrinkage. This shrinkage affects to the matrix and eventually the residual stresses are remained in composite structure. The residual stresses could affect to submicron metal particles that exist in the epoxy matrix.<br/>Cu/Ag particles that has a core/shell structure were used to investigate the interface between epoxy and Ag metal, and also between Ag and Cu metal. The metal particles were mixed with epoxy resins, hardener. the sample were measured after 120°C 20 min, and 180°C 40 min. A coherent x-ray diffraction imaging and scanning transmission x-ray microscopy, transmission x-ray microscope (TXM) was used to measure the interfacial changes.

X-ray imaging observation of interfacial changes between epoxy and metal particles during thermal curing

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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