To take full advantage of the synergistic effects of soft organic
and rigid inorganic toughening agents, elastomeric core/amine-functionalized
silica shell armored nanocomposite particles were prepared through
Pickering emulsion polymerization. The size and microstructure of
the prepared armored impact modifier particles (AIMPs) were studied
thoroughly. It was substantiated that the amine-functional silica
nanoparticles have been successfully attached to the surface of the
colloidal polymer particles. The obtained results revealed that the
incorporation of the prepared AIMPs into epoxy resin could exert significant
positive influences on its toughness, tensile strength, and modulus.
An optimal content of AIMPs was found to exist, which enhanced the
fracture toughness by 8 times, the fracture energy by 50 times, and
the tensile strength by 38% for the modified sample using 7 wt % AIMPs
in comparison with those of the neat epoxy resin. The primary toughening
mechanisms were related to crack pinning and deflection as well as
deboning of AIMPs from the epoxy matrix followed by plastic void growth.
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