Simultaneous attainment of particle dispersion and surface modification of Al2O3 nanoparticles via wet–jet milling

Abstract

The good dispersion and chemical modification of alumina (Al2O3) nanoparticles as filler were simultaneously performed by a wet–jet milling (WJM) process to disperse the nanoparticles effectively in the polymeric composite. The grafting densities of Al2O3 nanoparticles silane–coupling modified by WJM increased from 0.73 to 1.84 molecules/nm2 in hexyltriethoxysilane, and from 0.65 to 1.09 molecules/nm2 in 3–glycidoxypropyltriethoxysilane. Furthermore, the Al2O3 nanoparticles were dispersed to the primary particle size. In addition, the mechanical properties of the Al2O3/epoxy composite prepared by the in–situ mixing process were higher than those prepared by conventional dry mixing process. As results, the mechanical properties of the Al2O3/epoxy composite could be improved by optimizing the dispersion, chemical modification of the nanoparticles and mixing process of nanoparticles and polymer.