• Title/Summary/Keyword: Epoxidized castor oil

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Thermal Stability and Fracture Toughness of Epoxy Resins Modified with Epoxidized Castor Oil and Al2O3 Nanoparticles

  • Zhu, Lin;Jin, Fan-Long;Park, Soo-Jin
    • Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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    • v.33 no.8
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    • pp.2513-2516
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    • 2012
  • This study examined the effects of the epoxidized castor oil (ECO) and $Al_2O_3$ content on the thermal stability and fracture toughness of the diglycidylether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA)/ECO/$Al_2O_3$ ternary composites using a range of techniques. The thermal stability of the composites was decreased by the addition of ECO and $Al_2O_3$ nanoparticles. The fracture toughness of the composites was improved significantly by the addition of ECO and $Al_2O_3$ nanoparticles. The composite containing 3 wt % $Al_2O_3$ nanoparticles showed the maximum flexural strength. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed tortuous cracks in the DGEBA/ECO/$Al_2O_3$ composites, which prevented deformation and crack propagation.