Effects of filler shape and size on the properties of silver filled epoxy composite for electronic applications

Epoxy composites filled with nano- and micro-sized silver (Ag) particulate fillers were prepared and characterized based on flexural properties, coefficient of thermal expansion, dynamic mechanical analysis, electrical conductivity, and morphological properties. The influences of these two types of Ag fillers, especially in terms of their sizes and shapes, were investigated. Silver nanoparticles were nano-sized and spherical, while silver flakes were micron-sized and flaky. It was found that the flexural strength of the epoxy composite filled with silver flakes decreased, while the flexural strength of the epoxy composite filled with silver nanoparticles showed an optimum value at 4 vol.% before it subsequently dropped. Both silver composites showed improvement in flexural modulus with increasing filler loads. CTE value indicated significant decrements in filled samples compared to neat epoxy. Results on the electrical conductivity of both systems showed a transition from insulation to conduction at 6 vol.%.     

Effects of hybrid carbon fillers of polymer composite bipolar plates on the performance of direct methanol fuel cells

The effects of carbon filler type on the properties and performance of composite bipolar plates fabricated by compression molding of carbon fillers such as graphite, carbon black (CB), multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT), carbon fiber (CF) and powder type epoxy have been investigated. The electrical conductivity and flexural properties of the composites are increased by increasing the content of fibrous conducting fillers, e.g. MWNT and CF. On the contrary, incorporation of particulate fillers such as CB and graphite plays a significant role in enhancing the electrical conductivity but has a negative effect on the flexural properties of the composites. The current–voltage curve of the fuel cell indicates that the performance of the fuel cell is improved upon selection of an optimum amount of carbon filler in the composite bipolar plates.     

The use of a mixed coupling agent system to improve the performance of polypropylene-based composites reinforced with short-glass-fibre mat

In order to improve the mechanical properties of composites consisting of polypropylene reinforced with mats of short glass fibres, the fibre surface was treated with a silane coupling agent, N-β(N-vinylbenzylaminoethyl)-γ-aminopropyl trimethoxy silane hydrogen chloride (STS), and a titanate coupling agent, isopropyltriisostearoyl titanate (TTS). The flexural properties and the impact absorption energy of these composites were measured as a function of coupling agent concentration. STS-only treatment of the fibre surface enhanced the flexural strength and the flexural modulus of the composite, while TTS-only treatment decreased the flexural strength and the flexural modulus. The improved flexural properties of the composite brought about by the STS-only treatment were obtained at the cost of its impact absorption energy, whereas TTS-only treatment showed the inverse characteristics. However, in a mixed coupling agent system, the impact absorption energy of the composite was improved without a reduction in the flexural properties. A morphological study of the fracture surfaces of the composite after impact testing, void content measurement and single-fibre fragmentation test were also carried out to understand the interfacial phenomena of the surface treated composites.     

Effect of surface modification of bamboo cellulose fibers on mechanical properties of cellulose/epoxy composites

Bamboo cellulose fibers were treated with NaOH aqueous solution and silane coupling agent, respectively, before they were applied into epoxy composites. The effect of surface modification on mechanical properties was evaluated by tensile and impact tests under controlled conditions. Compared with the untreated cellulose filled epoxy composites, the NaOH solution treatment increased the tensile strength by 34% and elongation at break by 31%. While silane coupling agent treatment produced 71% enhancement in tensile strength and 53% increase in elongation at break. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe the surface feature of the cellulose fibers and the tensile fractures as well as cryo-fractures of the composites. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) was employed to analyze the chemical structure of the cellulose fibers before and after modifications. The results indicated different mechanisms for the two modifications of cellulose. The NaOH solution partly dissolved the lignin and amorphous cellulose, which resulting in splitting the fibers into smaller size. This led to easier permeating into the gaps of the fibers for epoxy resin (EP) oligmer and forming effective interfacial adhesion. Based on the emergence of Si–O–C and Si–O–Si on the cellulose surface, it was concluded that the enhancement of mechanical properties after coupling agent modification could be ascribed to the formation of chemical bonds between the cellulose and the epoxy coupled with the coupling agent.     

Electrical and thermophysical properties of epoxy/aluminum nitride nanocomposites: Effects of nanoparticle surface modification

The traditional epoxy resin used for electrical and electronic industry has a poor thermal conductivity and no longer meets the increasingly cooling requirements of electric equipments and electronic devices. Ceramic nanoparticles with high thermal conductivity and low dielectric constant represent good candidates to improve the thermophysical properties of epoxy resin. This paper reports the effects of surface modification of AlN nanoparticles on morphology, glass transition, electrical property and thermal conductivity of the epoxy composites. Gamma-aminopropyl triethoxysilane was used as a silane coupling agent for the surface modification of the AlN nanoparticles. It was found that the surface modification of the nanoparticles not only improved the dispersion of the nanoparticles, but also showed an enhancement in electrical and thermophysical properties of the epoxy composites. The surface modification technology presented a strategy to prepare nanocomposites having high thermal conductivity simultaneously with low dielectric loss.     

A study of the mechanical properties of short natural-fiber reinforced composites

The degree of fiber–matrix adhesion and its effect on the mechanical reinforcement of short henequen fibers and a polyethylene matrix was studied. The surface treatments were: an alkali treatment, a silane coupling agent and the pre-impregnation process of the HDPE/xylene solution. The presence of Si–O–cellulose and Si–O–Si bonds on the lignocellulosic surface confirmed that the silane coupling agent was efficiently held on the fibres surface through both condensation with cellulose hydroxyl groups and self-condensation between silanol groups.

The fiber–matrix interface shear strength (IFSS) was used as an indicator of the fiber–matrix adhesion improvement, and also to determine a suitable value of fiber length in order to process the composite with relative ease. It was noticed that the IFSS observed for the different fiber surface treatments increased and such interface strength almost doubled only by changing the mechanical interaction and the chemical interactions between fiber and matrix.

HDPE-henequen fiber composite materials were prepared with a 20% v/v fiber content and the tensile, flexural and shear properties were studied. The comparison of tensile properties of the composites showed that the silane treatment and the matrix-resin pre-impregnation process of the fiber produced a significant increase in tensile strength, while the tensile modulus remained relatively unaffected. The increase in tensile strength was only possible when the henequen fibers were treated first with an alkaline solution. It was also shown that the silane treatment produced a significant increase in flexural strength while the flexural modulus also remained relatively unaffected. The shear properties of the composites also increased significantly, but, only when the henequen fibers were treated with the silane coupling agent. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies of the composites failure surfaces also indicated that there is an improved adhesion between fiber and matrix. Examination of the failure surfaces also indicated differences in the interfacial failure mode. With increasing fiber–matrix adhesion the failure mode changed from interfacial failure and considerable fiber pull-out from the matrix for the untreated fiber to matrix yielding and fiber and matrix tearing for the alkaline, matrix-resin pre-impregnation and silane treated fibers.     

Effect of coupling agent on the thermal and dielectric properties of PTFE/Sm2Si2O7 composites

The present study investigates the dielectric and thermal properties of PTFE/Sm₂Si₂O₇ composites. The composites were prepared by powder processing technique followed by hot pressing. The variation of the dielectric properties with filler content (0–0.5 V_f) was studied at 1 MHz and 9 GHz. The filler surface was chemically modified using phenyl trimethoxy silane (PTMS) as a coupling agent. The microstructural study using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the particles were well dispersed in the matrix when coupled with PTMS. The surface modification led to an improvement in the dielectric properties. The PTFE filled with 0.4 V_f silane treated Sm₂Si₂O₇ composite showed a low dielectric loss of 0.0054 and slightly higher relative permittivity of 3.92 when compared with the untreated composite of the same composition. The experimental values of relative permittivities were compared with the theoretical predictions and the Effective Medium Theory was found to agree well even for higher content of silane treated filler. It was found that the addition of silane coupling agent is very effective in improving the thermal properties of the PTFE/Sm₂Si₂O₇ composites.     

Reinforcing hydroxyapatite/thermosetting epoxy composite with 3-D carbon fiber fabric through RTM processing

Bioactive ceramic/polymer composites have been developed in the orthopaedic field in recent years. In this work, three-dimensional (3-D) carbon fiber fabric is used to reinforce hydroxyapatite (HA)/thermosetting epoxy composite and epoxy resin through resin transfer molding (RTM) processing. It is found that the 3-D carbon fiber fabric can be impregnated with epoxy and HA-containing epoxy resin, and HA is distributed gradually along the depth direction in fiber-reinforced HA/epoxy composite, although HA is dispersed evenly in epoxy resin by surface modification of silane coupling agent. The impact toughness and flexural strength of fiber-reinforced epoxy and fiber-reinforced HA/epoxy composites are much higher than those of epoxy and HA/epoxy composite. The impact toughness of both fiber-reinforced composites decreases while the flexural strength and the flexural modulus increase with fiber volume ratio. The impact toughness of the fiber-reinforced HA/epoxy composite is higher, while the flexural strength and modulus are lower than those of the fiber-reinforced epoxy composite at the same fiber volume ratio. The flexural strength of the both composites is higher than, and their flexural modulus is close to, those of the human cortical bone. The in vitro cytotoxicity test with L929 fibroblasts shows that the addition of HA diminished the toxicity of epoxy resin.     

Aminimide-cured epoxy resins as surface modifiers for mica flakes in particle-reinforced thermoplastics

The tensile behaviour of mica-flake-dispersed thermoplastic composites was examined. The mica flakes (phlogopite, muscovite and cerisite) were treated with a combination of epoxy prepolymer and various aminimide curing agents, and then incorporated into polypropylene or acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer matrix. It was found that improvement of the fillermatrix interface with the present treatments is comparable to expensive silane coupling treatments. The tensile strength of the composites increased by approximately 20%. In contrast, surface treatment by conventional epoxy resins gave poor results in all respects. The overall behaviour is discussed in terms of the nature of the interface between filler and matrix in the polymer composite materials.     

环氧树脂复合材料的制备及力学性能

通过配方设计,以硅烷偶联剂改性的空心玻璃微珠(HGB)为填料,端羧基液体丁腈橡胶(CTBN)为增稠剂和增韧剂,环氧树脂(EP)为基体,经变温分段固化技术制备环氧树脂/端羧基丁腈橡胶/空心玻璃微珠(EP/CTBN/HGB)三元泡沫复合材料并研究其力学和流变性能。结果表明,CTBN使得复合材料由脆性断裂变为韧性断裂;CTBN劣化了复合材料模量而HGB弥补了复合材料模量;当CTBN、HGB含量分别为12%(质量分数)和30%(体积分数)时,三元复合材料的冲击、弯曲、拉伸强度及弯曲模量均优于纯EP。另外,纯环氧树脂和EP/CTBN共混物的黏度呈现出牛顿流体的流变行为,而三元共混物的黏度表现出明显的剪切变稀现象。     

Performance and application study of silane coupling agent (KH550) modified wood fiber-fly ash cenosphere/epoxy resin composites

In this paper, the epoxy resin composite filled with wood fiber and fly ash cenosphere was prepared. In order to improve the bonding properties between wooden fiber/fly ash cenosphere and epoxy resin, the grafting treatment of wooden fiber and fly ash cenosphere surfaces was carried out here using KH550 type silane coupling agent. The effects of different process parameters on the surface modification effect of wooden fiber and fly ash cenosphere were investigated, the mechanical properties and energy absorption characteristics of the materials before and after the filler modification were tested, and the microscopic interfacial structures of the matrix with wooden fiber and fly ash cenosphere were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. Meanwhile, based on LS-DYNA simulation software, the energy-absorbing performance of energy-absorbing boxes prepared from AA6061 aluminum alloy and modified wooden fiber-fly ash cenosphere/epoxy resin composites were compared in low-velocity collisions.     

Densification and strengthening of silver-reinforced hydroxyapatite-matrix composite prepared by sintering

Ductile-phase reinforcement of hydroxyapatite (HA) was achieved by addition of silver particulates (5–30 vol %) in HA powder and subsequent sintering of HA–Ag powder compacts. A composite made by sintering 10 vol % Ag and the balance HA at 1200 °C for 1 h in air had flexural strength of 75±7 MPa, which was almost double that of pure HA sintered under an identical condition. The density of HA-10 vol % Ag composite was 90±2% of the theoretical density (as calculated from the rule of mixture) and was lower than that (98.7±0.4%) of pure HA sintered at a similar condition. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the composite did not indicate any decomposition of HA or any reaction between HA and Ag. Ag in the composite melted during sintering, but, due to poor wetting, did not spread in between HA particles. The addition of Ag reduced densification and grain growth during sintering of HA–Ag composites. Indentation cracks in the composites went around Ag inclusions and often stopped at Ag inclusions. The increase in the flexural strength of the composites was thought to be due to crack-bridging and crack-arrest by silver particles.     

Improving the through-thickness thermal and electrical conductivity of carbon fibre/epoxy laminates by exploiting synergy between graphene and silver nano-inclusions

Fibre-reinforced polymer composites typically feature low functional (e.g., electric and thermal conductivity) and structural (e.g. mechanical strength and fracture toughness) properties in the laminate’s thickness direction. In the event of lightning strikes, overheating, and impact by foreign objects, composite laminates may suffer wide spread structural damage. This research explores the synergistic physical interaction between two-dimensional nanostructured (graphene nano-platelets) and, zero- or one-dimensional conductive fillers (silver nanoparticles or silver nanowires, respectively) when both are dispersed in fibre–polymer laminates. The results reveal a synergistic improvement in the through-thickness thermal conductivity that is more than the additive improvements by each constituent. Specifically, the simultaneous inclusion of graphene nano-platelets and silver nanoparticles/nanowires at a combined loading of 1 vol% resulted in approximately 40% enhancement in the through-thickness thermal conductivity while the inclusion of graphene nano-platelets alone at the same loading resulted only in 9% improvement. Similarly, the through-thickness electrical conductivity of carbon fibre/epoxy laminates incorporating graphene nano-platelets together with silver nanoparticles/nanowires was notably higher (⩾70%) than can be achieved by graphene nano-platelets alone (∼55%). These results demonstrate that the presence of nano-reinforcements exhibiting varied phonon transport and electron transfer pathways, and geometric aspect ratios promote synergistic physical interactions. Small improvements were found in the mechanical properties, including tensile, flexural or compressive properties of the carbon fibre-reinforced laminates, due to the relatively low concentrations of the nano-fillers.     

Effect of different types of silver and epoxy systems on the properties of silver/epoxy conductive adhesives

In this study, the effect of amine adduct powder (AAP) on the electrical conductivity, thermal expansion, and flexural modulus of one-part system conductive adhesives are investigated. One-part system conductive adhesives are prepared using two types of silver (silver A and silver B) and different percentage of filler loadings, 10 vol.% ?40 vol.%. Silver A adhesive systems exhibit higher electrical conductivity with lower percolation thresholds, high flexural moduli, and low coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) compared silver B adhesive systems. A comparison of the electrical conductivity and thermal expansion properties of the one part and two-part of silver A adhesives system is undertaken. The one-part silver A adhesives system shows high electrical conductivity and low CTE values compared to the two-part system. This is due to the higher cross linking density of the one-part system compared to that of the two-part system.     

A novel ultrasonic transducer backing from porous epoxy resin–titanium–silane coupling agent and plasticizer composites

In this paper, a new composite for ultrasonic attenuation backing has been successfully fabricated from porous epoxy resin containing titanium (Ti), silane coupling agent and plasticizer composites. The effect of Ti particles on the network structure and mechanical properties of epoxy resin has been analyzed in detail. The ultrasonic parameters in epoxy composites have been measured by a conventional pulse-echo-overlap technique at a frequency of 1–5 MHz. The effect of Ti content and temperature on the longitudinal sound velocity and attenuation of epoxy resin composites were investigated. Precise in situ observations of the acoustic properties such as attenuation and acoustic impedance of epoxy composites are expected to be useful for ultrasonic transducer systems for new as well as for backing application with high attenuation.     

Characterization and properties of an organic–inorganic dielectric nanocomposite for embedded decoupling capacitor applications

Polymer/aluminum nanocomposites have a high dielectric constant and a low dielectric loss because of the combined characteristics of polymer–ceramic (due to the insulating ceramic shell of an aluminum particle) and polymer–metal (due to the metal core of an aluminum particle) systems. In this work, an aluminum particle surface treatment was performed with an epoxide-functionalized silane coupling agent in order to further improve the dielectric properties and processibility of polymer/aluminum composites. Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) were used to characterize the aluminum particles before/after coupling agent treatment. It was found that the silane coupling agent was successfully grafted on the aluminum particle surface. Rheology studies of polymer/aluminum composites showed that the coupling agent treatment could significantly reduce the viscosity of the aluminum composites, which indicates coupling agent treatment can improve the processibility of aluminum composites at high filler loading levels. Dielectric properties, including the frequency responses and temperature coefficient of capacitance of the aluminum composites were studied with a dielectric analyzer (DEA). The microstructures of aluminum composites were characterized with a field emission scanning electron microscope (SEM). It was found that a coupling agent treatment can improve the aluminum particle distribution and thereby enhancing the dielectric constant of aluminum composites.     

Fabrication, thermal, and dielectric properties of self-passivated Al/epoxy nanocomposites

The current paper reports the effects of an epoxide-functionalized, silane surface-treated, self-passivated aluminum (Al) nanoparticles on the glass transition, morphology, thermal conductivity, dielectric properties of an epoxy composite. The surface modification of the Al nanoparticles improved the dispersion of the filler, as well as the glass transition temperature, thermal conductivity, and dielectric properties of the epoxy composites. The epoxy/Al nanocomposites showed a dielectric constant transition concentration. The dielectric constant and dissipation factor increased when the Al particle loading exceeded the critical content but gradually decreased with the frequency. The epoxy nanocomposites containing 15 % by weight Al nanoparticles have a high thermal conductivity and a high dielectric constant but a low dissipation factor. The enhancements in the thermal and dielectric properties of the epoxy nanocomposites show potential for future engineering applications.     

Effects of hybrid fillers based on micro- and nano-sized silver particles on the electrical performance of epoxy composites

In the present study, electrically conductive adhesives produced from hybrid fillers based on micro- and nano-sized silver (Ag) was developed. The influence of the hybrid filler composition on the electrical properties of the hybrid system was studied. The electrical conductivity of the epoxy composites filled with micro- and nano-silver was correlated with their morphologies. A positive effect was observed in the electrical conductivity result when the composition of micro- and nano-sized Ag particles reached a 50:50 weight ratio. The nano-sized Ag particles became interconnecting particles in the interstitial spaces between micro-sized particles. Micrograph scanning shows that the particles were well distributed and dispersed, the separation between lumps of Ag filler by the insulating matrix was significantly reduced, leading to the formation of continuous linkages. The increased electrical conductivity resulted in a charge around the particle distribution, which led to the high capacity. Hence, these particles increased the conductivity of the system.     

苎麻织物表面改性对其增强热固性聚乳酸复合材料力学及阻燃性能的影响

采用碱处理、硅烷偶联剂处理、碱+硅烷偶联剂复合处理、碱+阻燃剂+硅烷偶联剂复合处理对苎麻织物进行表面改性,采用模压工艺制备了苎麻织物增强热固性聚乳酸(PLA)复合材料。研究了4种表面改性方法对苎麻织物/PLA复合材料弯曲性能的影响,采用SEM研究了苎麻纤维与PLA基体之间的界面结合状况。结果表明:经过4种表面改性处理后苎麻织物/PLA复合材料的弯曲性能均有所提高,其中碱+硅烷偶联剂复合处理后提高幅度最大,苎麻织物/PLA复合材料的弯曲强度、模量分别提高了59.5%、51.9%。碱+阻燃剂+硅烷偶联剂复合处理后苎麻织物/PLA复合材料的弯曲强度、模量较未处理时分别提高了38.0%、66.8%;且苎麻织物/PLA复合材料60s点火时间的损毁长度为8.25cm,达到了美国DOT/FAA/AR-00/12要求的标准。SEM结果表明:改性处理后苎麻织物/PLA复合材料中纤维与树脂之间的界面结合更好。     

Exploring biomass based carbon black as filler in epoxy composites: Flexural and thermal properties

Carbon blacks (CB), derived from bamboo stem (BS-CB), coconut shells (CNS-CB) and oil palm empty fiber bunch (EFB-CB), were obtained by pyrolysis of fibers at 700 °C, characterized and used as filler in epoxy composites. The results obtained showed that the prepared carbon black possessed well-developed porosities and are predominantly made up of micropores. The BS-CB, CNS-CB and EFB-CB filled composites were prepared and characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). The SEM showed that the fractured surface of the composite indicates its high resistance to fracture. The CBs–epoxy composites exhibited better flexural properties than the neat epoxy, which was attributed to better adhesion between the CBs and the epoxy resin. TGA showed that there was improvement in thermal stability of the carbon black filled composites compared to the neat epoxy resin.