Author(s)

WAN-TING SUN, HITOSHI TAKAGI, ANTONIO N. NAKAGAITO

Abstract

The mechanical and physical properties of potassium titanate whisker (PTW) reinforced epoxy nanocomposites have been studied to examine the contribution of PTW loading and surface modification effects on these properties. Tensile tests and micro-hardness measurements have been used to study the mechanical performance of epoxy-based nanocomposites reinforced with 1 wt% to 5 wt% of PTW. We found that the mechanical properties and micro-hardness of PTW-reinforced epoxy nanocomposites become higher than those of neat epoxy resin. Furthermore, the experimental results showed that the nanocomposites reinforced with silane-treated PTW have higher tensile strength and Young’s modulus. The micro-hardness of the treated PTW nanocomposites also had higher values as compared with that of untreated PTW nanocomposites. These results indicate that the mechanical performances of the PTW/epoxy nanocomposites were controlled by the silane surface treatment. Scanning electron microscopy studies indicated that the fracture surface of the silane-treated PTW nanocomposite had better interfacial adhesion, as the PTWs were covered with matrix resin.

Keywords

potassium titanate whisker, nanocomposites, mechanical properties, micro-hardness, silane treatment