Ultrasonic dispersion of inorganic nanoparticles in epoxy resin

Abstract

The incorporation of nanoscale fillers into a polymer can lead to a considerable improvement of mechanical properties, i.e. stiffness and toughness of a material can be enhanced simultaneously by the insertion of nanofillers. Thereby, the crucial difference between conventional microscale fillers and nanofillers is the high specific surface of the latter. In order that this surface can interact with the matrix material a good dispersion, i.e. a good separation and a homogeneous distribution of the nanoparticles into the polymer, is required. In the present study ultrasonic waves generated by an ultrasonic horn were used to disperse titanium dioxide nanoparticles into epoxy resin. The process parameters, e.g. the ultrasonic amplitude, the dispersion time and the material's volume, were varied systematically with the aim of achieving an optimum dispersion process. A dispersion model for bead mills was adapted to the ultrasonic process and compared to a second dispersion model in order to find an adequate mathematical expression to correlate the ultrasonic process parameters to the particle sizes in the material and to allow predictions for further experiments.

Preparation of TiO2 epoxy nanocomposites by ultrasonic dispersion and resulting properties

“…As described in Ref. 6, the maximum power input at amplitude 100% was determined calorimetrically to be 219 W. By the help of the ultrasonic dispersion model (1), it can be calculated that the power input necessary for reaching the primary particle size X P would be:…”

“…To say that by the insertion of nanoparticles into a polymer matrix, the strength and toughness can be enhanced simultaneously, that is not possible to same degree for composites with microscale reinforcements. 1,2 However, the dispersion of the nanofillers in the polymer matrix leading to a big particle-matrix interface, which is indispensable for the improvement of the materials properties, remains a big challenge. Usually, this aim is pursued by applying mechanical dispersion techniques such as a dissolver, a torus mill, or a three roll calendar.…”

“…3,4 In the last years, sonication proofed to be an adequate alternative technique for the dispersion of nanoparticles. 5,6 However, most studies were carried out in aqueous solutions, 7 and there is only very few experiences for the ultrasonic dispersion of particles in highviscosity liquids such as epoxy resin. 8,9 As a consequence, the reported processing conditions reported by different researchers differ very much.…”

The characteristics of novel bimodal Ag–TiO2 nanoparticles generated by hybrid laser-ultrasonic technique

“…Here, it can be said that the ultrasonic waves might have not effected the generation mechanism of nanoparticles such as phase transition, thermodynamic, and kinetic growth, but they have an effect on the combination of two different types of nanoparticles while they are still hot (during the laser ablation) that have different physical properties. In addition, ultrasonic waves were used to dismantle large-sized particles to small-sized particles [45] and to disperse agglomerated nanoparticles in deionised water [46].…”

Effects of Ultrasonication Time on Thermal Stability and Swelling Behaviour of The Commercial Organo-Montmorillonite (O-MMT)

“…This is because; thermal degradation of the organic surface modifier during high melt compounding process temperature can reduce the properties of the resultant polymer/O-MMT nanocomposites. Ultrasonication has been used as a technique to disperse nanomaterials without destruction of their chemical structure [10][11][12]. Yet, the efficiency of the ultrasonication in exfoliating the nano-size O-MMT platelets without degradation of surface modifier is still unknown.…”