Mechanical Properties and Abrasive Behavior of Diamond Incorporated Epoxy Composites

Abstract

The thermal and mechanical properties assessed respectively by dynamic mechanical analysis and flexural bend tests as well as the abrasive behavior obtained by wear tests of diamond particles incorporated epoxy matrix composites were investigated. Diamond particles with sizes in the range of 45 to 115 µm, synthesized at high pressure and temperature, were mixed in amounts of 20 and 40 wt% with dyglycidyl of the bisphenol A, DGEBA, epoxy resin cured with stoichiometric ratio of tetraetylenepentamine, TEPA, hardener. These composites were dynamic mechanical, DMA analyzed and three points bend tested. The behavior of the composites as abrasive tool for industrial polishing of ornamental rocks was evaluated by wear tests. The results showed an improved performance of the DGEBA/TEPA composites with incorporation of diamond particles.