Publications

Abstract : This work investigates the influence of silicon based coupling agents on visco-elastic properties of natural filler dispersed epoxy resin composites. Also this work attempts to explore the possibility of using silicon coupling grafted natural fillers as potential fillers for polymer composites. Ground nut shell power (GS powder), rice husk and saw dust were selected as reinforcement for this current investigation. The powders were silane surface grafted using silicon coupling agent 3-Aminopropyltrimethoxysilane via aqueous solution method. The composites were prepared via gravity casting method and post cured at 120°C. The visco-elastic behavior of silane surface modified rice-husk-epoxy natural filler composite gives improved results in storage modulus, and loss tangent. Similarly, the fatigue results revealed that the composites made with 10 vol.% of silane surface treated rice husk filler gives maximum fatigue life cycle of 1310. The sessile drop results show that the silane surface modified epoxy composites retains higher absorption resistance by offering higher contact angle even after the natural fillers are filled. Scanning electron microscope images revealed highly reacted phase and improved dispersion of natural fillers with matrix. These natural fillers strengthen epoxy composites could be right choice to replace many metallic based materials in engineering applications.