The effect of micron-rubber and nano-silica particles on the fatigue crack growth behavior of an epoxy polymer
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Accepted version
Author(s)
Manjunatha, CM
Jagannathan, N
Padmalatha, K
Taylor, AC
Kinloch, AJ
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
A thermosetting epoxy polymer was hybrid-modified by incorporating 9 wt.% of CTBN rubber micro particles and 10 wt.% of silica nano-particles. The unmodified and the hybrid-modified resins were poured into steel moulds and cured to produce bulk epoxy polymer sheets from which standard compact tension test specimens were machined. Fatigue crack growth tests were conducted using a 50 kN servo-hydraulic test machine, with the following test parameters: stress ratio, R = σmin/σmax = 0.1, sinusoidal waveform and frequency, ν = 3 Hz. The crack length was monitored by a compliance technique. The fracture surfaces were observed in a high resolution scanning electron microscope. The fatigue crack growth rate of the hybrid epoxy polymer was observed to be significantly lower than that of the unmodified epoxy polymer. The threshold stress intensity factor range, ΔKth, of the epoxy polymer was observed to increase by the addition of micron-rubber and nano-silica particles. The energy dissipating mechanisms viz, (i) cavitation of the rubber microparticles followed by plastic-deformation and void growth of the epoxy and, (ii) silica nanoparticle debonding followed by plastic-deformation and void growth of the epoxy, were observed to be operative and contribute for the reduced crack growth rate in the hybrid epoxy polymer.
Editor(s)
International Journal of Nanoscience
Date Issued
2011-08-01
Date Acceptance
2011-08-01
Citation
International Journal of Nanoscience, 2011, 10 (4-5), pp.1095-1099
ISSN
1793-5350
Publisher
World Scientific Publishing
Start Page
1095
End Page
1099
Journal / Book Title
International Journal of Nanoscience
Volume
10
Issue
4-5
Copyright Statement
© 2011 World Scientific Publishing Co Pte Ltd. Electronic version of an article published as International Journal of Nanoscience 10(4-5), 2011 https://dx.doi.org/10.1142/S0219581X11009489
Publication Status
Published