Effect of silica nanoparticle size on toughening mechanisms of filled epoxy

The addition of silica nanoparticles (23 nm, 74 nm, and 170 nm) to a lightly crosslinked, model epoxy resin, was studied. The effect of silica nanoparticle content and particle size on glass transition temperature (Tg), coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), Young's modulus (E), yield stress (σ), fracture energy (GIC) and fracture toughness (KIC), were investigated. The toughening mechanisms were determined using scanning electron microscopy...