Morphology and thermo–mechanical properties of epoxy composites withglassy carbon

The application of carbon fillers to polymer matrices requires basic knowledge about characteristics of both phases. Interactions between a filler and polymer matrix affecting the morphology and dynamics of polymer’s chains molecular motion in such mixtures should be also taken into considerations. The novel filler used in this study was glassy carbon having specific layered structure. Glassy carbon is an advanced material combining glassy and ceramic properties with those of graphite. However, unlike graphite, glassy carbon has a fullerene-like microstructure, which leads to a great variety of unique material properties, i.e. high temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, high hardness and strength, low density, and isotropy of physical and chemical properties. It is expected that the epoxy composites with glassy carbon as a filler should have interesting properties from point of view of possible applications. The aim of this work was to study the influence of glassy carbon structure on morphology and thermo-mechanical properties of resultant composites. The composites based on low molecular weight diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A cross-linked with aliphatic amines with 10 wt. % of the filler were prepared for the study. The following methods were used for characterization of composite materials: optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, dynamic mechanical analysis and termogravimetry. The degree of dispersion of filler’s particles in the epoxy matrix as well as the character of inter-phase zone between the polymer and the filler were determined in this way. The improvement of thermal stability, stiffness and elastic modulus of composites obtained was observed. The properties of glassy carbon and its epoxy composites were compared with those of anthracite-derived fillers of turbostratic and graphite-like structure and their composites respectively.