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  • Original Paper: Nano-structured materials (particles, fibers, colloids, composites, etc.)
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Sol–gel template preparation of alumina nanofillers for reinforcing the epoxy resin

Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology volume 80, pages 353–361 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

Alumina nanofibers were prepared by sol–gel template method. Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) of feather-like morphology obtained by chemical vapor deposition of C2–C4 hydrocarbons mixture have been used as a template. The distinctive feature of CNF is a friable disordered structure consisting of separate fragments of graphite-like phase. To simplify the sol–gel synthetic procedure, the impact of preparative conditions such as type of precursor and ratio of starting components was studied. CNFs were coated with corresponding alumina precursor and subjected to a high temperature treatment. The resulted alumina nanofibers were explored by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), physical nitrogen adsorption (BET), and X-ray diffraction. The optimal Al2O3:CNF ratio was found to be 1:6. According to SEM and BET, surface area of prepared alumina fibers 70–90 nm in diameter lies in a range of 149–174 m2/g. The thermal and strength properties of epoxy composites reinforced with alumina nanofibers are compared. It was demonstrated that used nanofillers affect noticeably the properties of the epoxy matrix.

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Acknowledgments

The study was performed using the equipment of the Center for Shared Use of Scientific Equipment “Khimiya” of the Institute of Chemistry, Komi Science Center, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The reported study was funded by RFBR (Project 16-38-80093 mol_ev_a).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Chemistry, Komi SC UB RAS, Syktyvkar, Russia, 167982

    Pavel V. Krivoshapkin, Elena F. Krivoshapkina & Petr A. Sitnikov

  2. Syktyvkar State University, Syktyvkar, Russia, 167000

    Pavel V. Krivoshapkin

  3. Boreskov Institute of Catalysis, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia, 630090

    Ilya V. Mishakov & Aleksey A. Vedyagin

  4. National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk, Russia, 634050

    Ilya V. Mishakov & Aleksey A. Vedyagin

Authors
  1. Pavel V. Krivoshapkin
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  2. Ilya V. Mishakov
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  3. Elena F. Krivoshapkina
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  4. Aleksey A. Vedyagin
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  5. Petr A. Sitnikov
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Correspondence to Aleksey A. Vedyagin.

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Krivoshapkin, P.V., Mishakov, I.V., Krivoshapkina, E.F. et al. Sol–gel template preparation of alumina nanofillers for reinforcing the epoxy resin. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 80, 353–361 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-016-4126-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-016-4126-9

Keywords

  • Alumina nanofibers
  • Carbon nanofibers
  • Sol–gel synthesis
  • Template method
  • Epoxy resin