Fabrication, Structure and Properties of Epoxy/Metal Nanocomposites

Gd 2 O 3 nanoparticles surface‐modified with IPDI were compounded with epoxy. IPDI provided an anchor into the porous Gd 2 O 3 surface and a bridge into the matrix, thus creating strong bonds between matrix and Gd 2 O 3 . 1.7 vol.‐% Gd 2 O 3 increased the Young's modulus of epoxy by 16–19%; the surface‐modified Gd 2 O 3 nanoparticles improved the critical strain energy release rate by 64.3% as compared to 26.4% produced by the unmodified nanoparticles. The X‐ray shielding efficiency of neat epoxy was enhanced by 300–360%, independent of the interface modification. Interface debonding consumes energy and leads to crack pinning and matrix shear banding; most fracture energy is consumed by matrix shear banding as shown by the large number of ridges on the fracture surface. magnified image