[en] The structural developments in the vicinity of the interface between the reactants of an epoxy are investigated using time- and space-resolved scanning Brillouin microscopy. The hypersonic profile across the phase boundary evolves with strong spatial asymmetry and exhibits erratic behavior within the resin-rich region, which is attributed to a complex interplay between matter transport, dissolution, polymerization, and molecular unravelling process. The presence of alumina nanoparticles in the resin changes the character of these matter transport and reaction processes significantly. On the one hand, the nanoparticles act as transport barriers, hindering the mixing of the reactive components; on the other hand they seem to have a catalytic influence on the epoxy polymerization under certain circumstances. Their transport against gravity is tentatively attributed to gradients in surface tension.
Disciplines :
Physics Materials science & engineering
Identifiers :
UNILU:UL-ARTICLE-2010-549
Author, co-author :
SANCTUARY, Roland ; University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Science, Technology and Communication (FSTC) > Physics and Materials Science Research Unit
Kieffer, J.; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Müller, Ulrich ; University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Science, Technology and Communication (FSTC) > Physics and Materials Science Research Unit
Possart, W.; Werkstoffwissenschaften, Universitiit des Saarlandes, Saarbriicken, Germany
KRÜGER, Jan-Kristian ; University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Science, Technology and Communication (FSTC) > Physics and Materials Science Research Unit
Language :
English
Title :
Trans-Interfacial Polymerization and Matter Transport Processes in Epoxy-Alumina Nanocomposites Visualized By Scanning Brillouin Microscopy