Epoxy/silica composites were prepared using aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES)-modified silica nanoparticles in the sol state. Different sizes of silica particles were synthesized and they were applied into the epoxy/silica composites with different compositions. The mechanical and thermal properties of the composites were investigated and compared with those of pristine epoxy composite. The structure and morphology of the modified silica nanoparticles and epoxy/silica composites were analyzed using field emission scanning electron microscope. The flexural modulus and tensile strength of the epoxy/silica composites were investigated by universal test machine (UTM). Also, glass transition and thermal stability were investigated using thermomechanical analyzer (TMA). Sizes of silica particles in sol state were controlled by using different concentration of the accelerator. The tensile strength of epoxy/silica composites containing 20 wt% of 30 nm silica was found to be 37.98 MPa. In addition, the glass transition temperature (Tg) decreased with increasing silica particle sizes.
One-step solution synthesis of a two-dimensional semiconducting covalent organometallic nanosheet via the condensation of boronic acid
