Mechanical and thermal properties of epoxy/silicon carbide nanofiber composites |
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| Authors: | Poornima Vijayan P Debora Puglia Agnieszka D?browska Pournami Vijayan P Andrzej Huczko Jose M Kenny Sabu Thomas |
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| Institution: | 1. School of Chemical Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India;2. University of Perugia, Materials Engineering Centre, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Terni, Italy;3. Department of Chemistry, Warsaw University, Warsaw, Poland;4. Department of Physics, St. Berchmans College, Changanacherry, India;5. International and Interuniversity Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, India;6. Universiti Teknologi MARA, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Shah Alam Selongor, Malaysia |
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| Abstract: | The silicon carbide (SiC) nanofibers (0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 phr), produced by self‐propagating high‐temperature synthesis (SHS), are used to reinforce the epoxy matrix cured with an anhydride hardener. Morphological studies reveal a better dispersion of SiC nanofibers and a good level of adhesion between nanofiber and the matrix in composites with lower (0.1 and 0.25 phr) nanofiber loading. The flexural studies show that a maximum increase in flexural properties is obtained for composites with 0.25 phr SiC nanofiber. The fracture toughness of epoxy is found to increase with the incorporation of SiC nanofibers, and 0.25 phr SiC nanofiber loading shows maximum fracture toughness value. The possible fracture mechanisms that exist in epoxy/SiC nanofiber composites have been investigated in detail. Thermogravimetric analysis reveals that SiC nanofibers are effective fillers to improve the thermal stability of epoxy matrix. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
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| Keywords: | epoxy composite SiC nanofiber flexural properties fracture toughness thermal properties |
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