Title: Fracture energy of nano- and micro-silica particle-filled epoxy composites

Authors: Tadaharu Adachi, Yoshinori Imai, Masahiro Higuchi

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology, 1-1 Hibarigaoka, Tempaku, Toyohashi 4418580, Japan. ' Department of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 O-okayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 1528552, Japan; Cold Rolling Technical Department, Kimitsu Work, Nippon Steel Corporation, 1 Kimitsu, Kimitsu, Chiba, 2991141, Japan. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology, 1-1 Hibarigaoka, Tempaku, Toyohashi 4418580, Japan

Abstract: The effects of particle size on the surface energy of the fracture surface and elastic moduli of nano- and micro-spherical silica-particle-filled epoxy composites were investigated experimentally. The Young|s modulus and shear modulus of the composites agreed well with the results evaluated by Lewis and Nielsen|s equation and were shown to be dependent on only the volume fraction of the particle. Surface energies of the fracture surface were evaluated from the critical energy release rates and the surface areas including the unevenness. The surface energies were shown to be constant regardless of the volume fraction of the particle.

Keywords: fracture energy; nanocomposites; particle-filled composites; silica particles; epoxy composites; surface energy; energy release rate; particle size effect; mechanical properties; surface energy; elastic moduli; nanotechnology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTAMM.2011.041176

International Journal of Theoretical and Applied Multiscale Mechanics, 2011 Vol.2 No.1, pp.82 - 94

Published online: 11 Jul 2011 *

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