Composite films having the UV cured Bis-GMA (Bisphenol A glycidylmethacrylate)/TEGDMA (triethylene glycol dimethacrylate) as a matrix and the ferrous oxide doped alumina (Al 2 O 3 Fe) based particles were prepared and subjected to cavitation. In order to improve the mechanical and adhesion properties of composites, four different surface modifications of filler particles were performed: 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MEMO), vinyltris(2-methoxyethoxy)silane (VTMOEO), (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTMS) and biodiesel (BD). Composite films were made with 0.5, 1.5, and 3 wt.% of ferrous oxide doped alumina particles with each of the mentioned surface modifications. Composite films were prepared on brass substrates and exposed to cavitation erosion. The erosion was monitored using the mass loss while image analysis was used to observe surface defects. The composite film reinforced with Al 2 O 3 Fe having VTMOEO as a surface modifier was the most resistant one in terms of mass loss, as well as the level of surface destruction. Results were compared to the same polymer matrix film and composite films prepared with fillers without surface modifications revealing that all composites with surface modified fillers exhibited some improvement in resistance to cavitation.
Basalt as a filler in a polymer-based composite material fulfils the demand of being natural, environment-friendly material for the production of various composite materials. The material could be used as protective layer and the abrasion should be tested in order to evaluate the properties of the material. The cavitation test enables the evaluation of the possible service in conditions that simulate the extensive erosion. The presence of basalt in the matrix improves the resistance to cavitation. The possibility to further improve the material could be obtained using the reinforcement of the matrix itself by incorporation of submicron ceramic particles into the composite. The obtained hybrid composite material with the addition of reinforcement in the matrix further improves the cavitation resistance.
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