Title

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

Authors

Authors

A. Stevenson; A. Jones;S. Raghavan

Comments

Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

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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