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Fabrication of transparent polymer-matrix nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical properties from chemically modified ZrO2 nanoparticles

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Abstract

Optically transparent nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical properties were fabricated using stable dispersions of sub 10 nm ZrO2 nanoparticles. The ZrO2 dispersions were mixed with a commercially available bisphenol-A-based epoxy resin (RIMR 135i) and cured with a mixture of two amine-based curing agents (RIMH 134 and RIMH 137) after complete solvent removal. The colloidal dispersions of ZrO2 nanoparticles, synthesized through a non-aqueous approach, were obtained through a chemical modification of the ZrO2 nanoparticle surface, employing different organic ligands through simple mixing at room temperature. Successful binding of the ligands to the surface was studied utilizing ATR–FT-IR and thermogravimetric analysis. The homogeneous distribution of the nanoparticles within the matrix was proven by SAXS and the observed high optical transmittance for ZrO2 contents of up to 8 wt%. Nanocomposites with a ZrO2 content of only 2 wt% showed a significant enhancement of the mechanical properties, e.g., an increase of the tensile strength and Young’s modulus by up to 11.9 and 12.5%, respectively. Also the effect of different surface bound ligands on the mechanical properties is discussed.

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Abbreviations

AFM:

Atomic force microscopy

ATR–FT-IR:

Attenuated total reflectance–FT-IR

DLS:

Dynamic light scattering

DPP:

Diphenyl phosphate

DTG:

Differential thermal analysis

DSC:

Differential scanning calorimetry

FT-IR:

Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy

MTS:

Maximum tensile strength

NC:

Nanocomposite

NP:

Nanoparticle

rt:

Room temperature

SAXS:

Small angle X-ray scattering

SA:

Sorbic acid

TEM:

Transition electron microscopy

THF:

Tetrahydrofuran

TGA:

Thermogravimetric analysis

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Acknowledgements

We thank Ms Karin Kadhim at the Institute of Organic Chemistry, TU Braunschweig, for the FT-IR measurements, and Ms Bianca Tiedemann at the Institute of Technical Chemistry, TU Braunschweig, for the DSC measurements. We also thank Ms Rona Pitschke at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Potsdam Germany for the TEM measurements. Dr. Céleste A. Reiss at PANalytical B.V., Almelo, The Netherlands, is gratefully acknowledged for the SAXS measurements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Particle Technology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Volkmaroder Strasse 5, 38104, Braunschweig, Germany

    Tarik Ali Cheema, Alexander Lichtner & Georg Garnweitner

  2. Institute of Solid Mechanics, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Schleinitzstrasse 20, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany

    Christine Weichert & Markus Böl

Authors
  1. Tarik Ali Cheema
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  2. Alexander Lichtner
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  3. Christine Weichert
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  4. Markus Böl
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  5. Georg Garnweitner
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Correspondence to Georg Garnweitner.

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Cheema, T.A., Lichtner, A., Weichert, C. et al. Fabrication of transparent polymer-matrix nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical properties from chemically modified ZrO2 nanoparticles. J Mater Sci 47, 2665–2674 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-011-6092-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-011-6092-5

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