Yang, Jiayao and Wang, Hengxu and Liu, Xiaohuan and Fu, Shenyuan and Song, Pingan 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1082-652X
(2021)
A nano-TiO2/regenerated cellulose biohybrid enabled simultaneous improvements in strength and toughness for solid epoxy resins.
Composites Science and Technology, 212:108884.
pp. 1-9.
ISSN 0266-3538
Abstract
The intrinsic brittleness has significantly restricted practical applications of epoxy resins. Existing toughening strategies often lead to degraded mechanical strength. Hence, it has been attractive but a huge challenge to design high-performance sustainable additives that can simultaneously improve strength and toughness of epoxy resins. Here, we report the synthesis of a nano-TiO2/regenerate cellulose (RC) biohybrid via a facile microwave method for strengthening and toughening a soft epoxy resin system (modulus below 1 GPa). Our results show that with 10 phr nano-TiO2/RC, the resultant epoxy composite exhibits simultaneous enhancements in tensile strength and impact toughness, ca. 38% and 40% higher than corresponding values of virgin epoxy resin because of improved interfacial compatibility. Moreover, the addition of as-designed nano-TiO2/RC can enhance thermostability of epoxy resin. It has a slightly negative effect on the curing reaction but does not change the curing mechanism of epoxy resins. This study provides a facile, efficient and green method for preparing bifunctional additive for creating strong and tough epoxy composites, which are expected to find wider applications in industries.
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| Item Type: | Article (Commonwealth Reporting Category C) |
|---|---|
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Permanent restricted access to Published version in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Current - Institute for Advanced Engineering and Space Sciences - Centre for Future Materials (1 Jan 2017 -) |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Current - Institute for Advanced Engineering and Space Sciences - Centre for Future Materials (1 Jan 2017 -) |
| Date Deposited: | 10 Nov 2021 03:07 |
| Last Modified: | 08 Mar 2022 21:34 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | cellulose; Nano-TiO2; solid epoxy resin; toughening; strengthening |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 09 Engineering > 0912 Materials Engineering > 091202 Composite and Hybrid Materials 09 Engineering > 0912 Materials Engineering > 091209 Polymers and Plastics |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 40 ENGINEERING > 4016 Materials engineering > 401609 Polymers and plastics 40 ENGINEERING > 4016 Materials engineering > 401602 Composite and hybrid materials |
| Socio-Economic Objectives (2008): | E Expanding Knowledge > 97 Expanding Knowledge > 970109 Expanding Knowledge in Engineering |
| Socio-Economic Objectives (2020): | 28 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 2801 Expanding knowledge > 280105 Expanding knowledge in the chemical sciences 28 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 2801 Expanding knowledge > 280110 Expanding knowledge in engineering |
| Identification Number or DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compscitech.2021.108884 |
| URI: | http://eprints.usq.edu.au/id/eprint/44063 |
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