Development and characterization of nanocomposite materials

In this paper we present the fabrication and characterization of nanocomposite materials based on crystalline nanoparticles dispersed in an oligomer matrix (DGEBA, used in epoxy resin). Two types of nanoparticles are used. Al2O3 nanoparticles, commercially available, allow us to carry out the fabrication process of the nanocomposites. This system (DGEBA + Al2O3) is considered as a reference for the second one based on iron iodate nanoparticles fabricated by co-precipitation. The nanocomposite fabrication process is described. The dispersion step and the problems inherent to clusters destruction are underlined. Iron iodate nanoparticles are characterized by TEM, SEM, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and EDX. Results point out that the nanoparticles have dimensions between 20 and 30 nm and present two different morphologies (ball and needle). ical properties of the nanocomposite based on Al2O3 are explored by Brillouin spectroscopy. An enhancement of the Youngʹs modulus is observed with a very weak mass percentage of nanoparticles (3%), the glass transition is also shifted from 247 K to 251 K. X-ray diffraction measurement on iron iodate nanocomposite demonstrates that nanoparticles remain in the same phase (P63) after the nanocomposite preparation process. This result is of great importance in order to achieve piezoelectric and ferroelectric applications.