Nanocomposites

5Study of Interface and Interphase between Epoxy Matrix and Carbon-based Nanofillers in Nanocomposites

Yu LIU, Delong HE, Ann-Lenaig HAMON and Jinbo BAI

CentraleSupélec, Paris-Saclay University, Gif-sur-Yvette, France

Our study focuses on the characterization of the chemical nature and mechanical properties of the interface created by carbon micro- and nanofillers in an epoxide matrix. A direct measurement of the materials structure has been carried out on a nanometric scale using electron microscopy. Electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) performed in a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) measured the plasmon peak position in the low-loss region, which is related to the local materials density. In situ tensile tests were carried out in a scanning electron microscope (SEM) on samples machined using a focused ion beam (FIB). These experiments were conducted on several types of fillers: oxidized or non-oxidized graphite platelets, carbon fibers (CFs) with/without their sizing layers and with/without nanotubes grown on their surfaces.

5.1. Introduction

Composite materials are known for combining a low weight with interesting properties such as mechanical strength. In this chapter, we report our investigations on composites where both the matrix and the fillers were carbon based. The matrix was a polymer (epoxide), chosen for its ease in use, whereas the different fillers we studied were also carbonaceous and either microsized (CFs) or nanosized (nanotubes, graphite ...