Estimation of the Interphase Thickness in Epoxy Based Nanocomposites

Recent research has established that the introduction of nano-sized fillers into polymers often results in enhanced dielectric properties over the neat polymer. Often, the large improvement in properties is widely attributed to the properties of the interphase layer between the polymer matrix and filler material. However this interphase is yet to be identified and understood. An understanding of the interphase is of supreme importance in order to tailor and design dielectric properties through introduction of nano-sized fillers. The present work aims at estimating the interphase thickness in epoxy based nano-composites. The epoxy resin (LY 556) is used as the base polymer, and aluminum oxide (Al2O3) particles with an average size of 50 nm are used as fillers. Both as-received as well as…