Quasi-static/dynamic response of SiO2–epoxy nanocomposites

The quasi-static and dynamic characteristics of SiO2–epoxy nanocomposites with SiO2 nanoparticle weight contents of 0, 3 and 7% under uniaxial compression at different loading rates (10−4 to 104 s−1) are experimentally studied by means of a universal testing machine and desktop split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB), respectively. Results show that strain-rate hardening plays a dominate role in the stress–strain behavior of the composites and the effect of strain-hardening plays a secondary role. The performance of the composite is dependent on loading rate and nanoparticle dispersion. The compressive strength of the composites is higher than that of pure epoxy at high strain-rates, whereas there is no obvious trend between the compressive strength and the particle contents at low loading rate.