EFFECT OF ALUMINA NANOPARTICLES ON THE PROPERTIES OF LOW-VISCOSITY CYANATE ESTER ADHESIVES FOR COMPOSITE REPAIR

摘要

Polymer matrix composites (PMCs) are susceptible to microcracks and delaminations from impacts and thermal/mechanical loadings that greatly reduce their mechanical integrity. This is especially a problem for high-temperature PMCs because current repair resins have low glass transition temperatures (T_g's) that stem from the low prepolymer viscosities required of injectable resins. Bisphenol E cyanate ester has both a high cured T_g and low prepolymer viscosity, ideal for the injection repair of high-temperature PMCs. Alumina nanoparticles were incorporated to improve adhesive strength and engineer prepolymer viscosity. Lap shear tests were performed to evaluate the effects of alumina nanoparticles on the adhesive strength of the resin.