Liquid metal synthesis of two-dimensional aluminium oxide platelets to reinforce epoxy composites
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
A liquid metal synthesis process provides a new low energy pathway avenue to synthesise various low-dimensional nanomaterials in order to improve the mechanical properties of polymer composites. This paper presents an investigation of the strengthening and toughening performances of two-dimensional platelets of boehmite (γ-AlO(OH)) and alumina (γ-Al2O3). Using a liquid metal alloy reaction process, two-dimensional metal oxide hydroxide and oxide platelets were synthesised and then used for reinforcing epoxy polymer composites at different weight fractions up to 10%. Both boehmite and alumina platelets increased the tensile modulus, yield stress and fracture toughness of the epoxy composite by up to 40%, 35% and 320%, respectively. Of the two materials, the boehmite platelets were more effective than the alumina platelets in increasing the tensile modulus (up to 27%) and ultimate strength (up to 14%) of the epoxy. In contrast, the alumina platelets promoted a 50% greater improvement to the mode I fracture energy when compared to using boehmite platelets. The primary mechanisms responsible for the measured property improvements are identified.
Date Issued
2019-09-08
Date Acceptance
2019-06-27
Citation
Composites Science and Technology, 2019, 181
ISSN
0266-3538
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal / Book Title
Composites Science and Technology
Volume
181
Copyright Statement
© 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This manuscript is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.
Subjects
Science & Technology
Technology
Materials Science, Composites
Materials Science
Particle-reinforced composite
Liquid metal
Oxides
Fracture toughness
TOUGHENING MECHANISMS
CARBON NANOTUBES
GAMMA-ALOOH
FRACTURE
BOEHMITE
PERFORMANCE
NANOFILLERS
POLYMERS
09 Engineering
Materials
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
107708
Date Publish Online
2019-06-28