The Influence of Surface Modified Silica Nanoparticles: Properties of Epoxy Nanocomposites

Abstract

Abstract The influence of the surface-modified (CCS) and un-modified (UCS) silica nanoparticles on epoxy nanocomposites were studied. Two different nanocomposites systems were synthesized using tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and 3-(triethoxysilyl) propylamine APTES as a precursor and coupling agent, respectively. In the uncoupled composite system (UCS) the silica particles were solely generated using TEOS as a precursor. The APTES was used as a coupling agent to chemically link the silica (SiO2) particles to the matrix in the coupled composite system (CCS). Both composite systems were fabricated as thin films. The SiO2 epoxy nanocomposites thin films were characterized by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), RAMAN, Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FT-IR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Thermal Gravimetric (TGA) analysis. RAMAN and FT-IR analysis confirmed the curing of epoxy resin and the generation of the inorganic structural network formation. SEM analysis of these nanocomposites revealed that silica particles were uniformly dispersed in the epoxy matrix. DSC analysis of the nano-composites revealed an increase in glass transition (T g) temperature with the addition of nanofiller. TGA analysis shows enhanced thermal stability of the coupled composite system in comparison to the neat and uncoupled epoxy composite system.