The effect of solvent on the mechanical properties of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)–epoxy nanocomposites

Abstract

The present study investigated the influence of different compatibilizer on the dispersion of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS). The effect of POSS dispersion in the epoxy resin in terms of mechanical, and thermal properties were reported. The three solvent used to disperse POSS in this work are ethanol, acetone, and toluene. The POSS was initially dispersed in the solvent followed by an addition in the epoxy resin by systematically varying the weight fraction from 0.5 to 8 wt%. Mechanical properties of nanocomposites were characterized in terms of elastic modulus, and fracture toughness. The obtained result illustrates that nanocomposites prepared by polar solvent dispersion such as ethanol showed an increase in values of elastic modulus and fracture toughness value. The increase in the modulus and fracture toughness value is due to the better interaction between POSS and ethanol disperse the POSS uniformly in the epoxy resin while avoiding the agglomeration. However, nanocomposites prepared by nonpolar solvent does not show substantial change in the mechanical properties. Fractured surface morphology was studied using scanning electron microscopy. Differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis illustrates that with better POSS dispersion value of glass transition temperature (T g) increased. Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy showed that POSS completely interacted with the epoxy resin and no phase separation was observed.

Superior enhancement in thermal conductivity of epoxy/graphene nanocomposites through use of dimethylformamide (DMF) relative to acetone as solvent

“…Mishra et al. compared the effect of three solvents (ethanol, acetone, and toluene) on the dispersion of polyhedral oligomeric silsequioxane (POSS) in epoxy and the subsequent enhancement of mechanical properties of POSS-epoxy nanocomposite [21] . They found that composite prepared using ethanol showed increase in elastic modulus and fracture toughness values due to the better dispersion of POSS in epoxy resin in ethanol solvent.…”

Polyaniline doped graphene thin film to enhance the electrical conductivity in carbon fiber-reinforced composites for lightning strike mitigation

“…Mishra and coworkers have shown that the effect of different solvents on the dispersion of nanofillers and their effects on mechanical properties of nanocomposites. 15 Moreover, the properties of fillers, such as high aspect ratios and high intrinsic conductivity, can play a major role in enhancing the conductivity of the composite system. Secondly, the use of interleaved buckypaper or flexible film is a recent development for the increment in the electrical, interlaminar, and thermomechanical properties of CFRP composites.…”

The Effect of POSS Type on the Shape Memory Properties of Epoxy-Based Nanocomposites

“…Thus, a hybrid organic–inorganic SMP that is based on an epoxy–POSS (EPOSS) nanocomposite material has a great potential for future space applications. The addition of POSS is known also to affect the T g and the Young’s modulus of epoxy-based polymers, and it can improve their mechanical, chemical, thermal, and electrical properties [ 20 , 32 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 ].…”

“…Most of the previous studies of epoxy and POSS have used diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) resin [ 36 , 37 , 38 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 ]. DGEBA is the most common type of epoxy resin [ 19 ]; it was found to have shape memory properties [ 51 ].…”

“…DGEBA is the most common type of epoxy resin [ 19 ]; it was found to have shape memory properties [ 51 ]. Prior studies focused on the effect of low concentrations of POSS (less than 10 wt.%) on the nanocomposites’ properties [ 19 , 20 , 39 , 40 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 ]. There are only few works on the effect of high concentrations of POSS (up to 50 wt.%) [ 32 , 34 , 35 , 41 , 42 , 43 ].…”