Characterization of particle dispersion and volume fraction in alumina-filled epoxy nanocomposites using photo-stimulated luminescence spectroscopy

    Authors

    A. Stevenson; A. Jones;S. Raghavan

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Polym. J.

    Keywords

    alumina nanocomposites; nanoparticle dispersion; photo-stimulated; luminescence spectroscopy; THERMAL BARRIER COATINGS; VOIGT FUNCTION; GROWN OXIDE; FRACTURE; COMPOSITES; MECHANISMS; PROFILE; Polymer Science

    Abstract

    A novel method is presented to validate the dispersion of alpha-alumina nanoparticles within a polymer matrix, as well as to create a calibration for filler particle volume fraction identification. Using photo-stimulated luminescence spectroscopy (PSLS), spectral information from alpha-alumina-filled epoxy nanocomposites consisting of varying volume fraction quantities of alumina nanoparticles was collected and analyzed. Surface contour maps of each nanocomposite were created by comparing integrated intensity data from the R1 curve of alpha-alumina throughout each specimen. These maps show satisfactory dispersion of alumina in the 5 and 25% volume fraction composites, whereas agglomerations were detected in various regions of the 38% nanocomposite, establishing the capability of this method to characterize photo-luminescent particle dispersion. This new approach also provides high spatial resolution, which can be used to determine the exact locations of voids, inclusions and/or agglomerations, while also predicting the volume percentage of photo-luminescent particle content within a specimen, lending itself as a quality control method in the manufacturing of these composites. Polymer Journal (2011) 43, 923-929; doi: 10.1038/pj.2011.82; published online 31 August 2011

    Journal Title

    Polymer Journal

    Volume

    43

    Issue/Number

    11

    Publication Date

    1-1-2011

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    923

    Last Page

    929

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000296795500008

    ISSN

    0032-3896

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