Micro/nanoscopic Characterizations of Epoxy-Silica Nanocomposites

Micro/nanoscopic properties of epoxy-silica nanocomposites are studied experimentally. The basic syntheses of epoxy-silica nanocomposites are introduced. Some micro/nanoscopic structure and characterizations of epoxy resin/silica nanocomposites, including the chemical elements, microstructure, the scattered state of the inorganic particles, and properties like elastic modulus and its hardness, are quantitatively analyzed using X-ray fluorescence spectral analysis, transmission electron microscope (TEM), and nanoindentation technique. These results will be useful for improving the synthesization technology and for optimizing the properties of epoxy resin-silica nanocomposites.