Polymer based materials are used in many applications nowadays. These light weight, strong materials are characterized in different groups, depending on their molecule structure. One of those groups are epoxies. These aromatic molecules are characterized by their strong adhesive character when irreversibly cured. High end industial glues and coatings are made out of epoxy resins. For many applications additives are used, e.g. to improve scratch resistance. Because fillers influence the intrinsic behavior of the epoxy materials, it is necessary to determine and predict this. In this way it will be possible to predict failure mechanisms. The main goal of coatings is to protect a product from contact damage. To understand the material resistance to scratches, different filled epoxy systems are tested. When particles with a higher stiffness than the matrix material are added, one expects the penetration depth to decrease, and therefore also the friction force. For additives with a lower stiffness the opposite behavior is expected. This report explains the preparation of smooth samples, needed for accurate scratch tests, as well as the experimental data for different types of fillers. Both 'hard' and 'soft' fillers are examined.
Scratch Performance Of Filled Epoxy Systems
Looijmans, S. F. S. P. (Author). 2015
Student thesis: Bachelor