Preparation,characterization, and improvement of hollow epoxy particle‐toughened vinyl ester composites for high‐end applications |
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Authors: | Low Lay Foon Azhar Bin Abu Bakar |
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Affiliation: | School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia |
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Abstract: | Spherical hollow epoxy particles (HEPs) that can serve as advanced reinforcing fillers for vinyl ester thermosets were prepared using the water‐based emulsion method. The HEP fillers were incorporated into the vinyl ester matrices at different loading amounts, ranging from 0 to 9 wt %, to reinforce and toughen the vinyl ester composite. The optimum mechanical properties of the HEP‐toughened epoxy composite can be achieved by the addition of 5 wt % HEP filler into the vinyl ester matrices. The toughening and strengthening of the epoxy composites involved the interlocking of vinyl ester resins into the pore regions on the HEP fillers. The toughening and interlocking mechanisms of HEP‐toughened vinyl ester composites were also proposed and discussed. The addition of HEP fillers into vinyl ester matrices increased the glass transition temperature (Tg) and thermal stability of the composites. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012 |
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Keywords: | hollow epoxy particles thermoset interlocking polymer‐filler interaction emulsion |
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