Compressive Behaviour of Ultra-Sonicated Starch / Carbon Black / Epoxy Composites

Abstract

Fillers are generally used in order to change some basic properties of polymer matrix but the filler particles often tend to aggregate with consequences in terms of the mechanical properties of the final composite. In order to avoid aggregation, many solutions have been proposed and one of them is to use ultrasounds in various stages of composites formation. In this study, the compressive behaviour of filled epoxy was analysed. As filler, at a 10% volume ratio, a mixture of three parts of starch and one part carbon black was used. The aim of the analysis was to identify the effect of ultra-sonication at different frequencies and for different periods of time on the compressive properties of composites.