Effect of SiO2@polydopamine core/shell nanoparticles as multifunctional filler for an aeronautical epoxy resin

Polydopamine (PDA) coated SiO2 nanoparticles (SiO2@PDA) were considered as filler for an aeronautical graded epoxy matrix. The nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by a modified one-step procedure, based on the nucleation and growth of SiO2 NPs followed by the growth of a thin PDA layer on the silica surface. TEM observations have revealed that Core/Shell Nanoparticles (CSNPs) are characterized by a core with a diameter of 250 nm and a 15 nm thick PDA shell. Nanocomposites with different filler concentrations (0.1, 1 and 5 wt%) were manufactured. Preliminary fracture toughness results show an increase of both KIC and GIC with addition of 1 wt% of CSNPs. Further samples will be tested by thermal and mechanical techniques, with particular attention to the thermal stability and fracture toughness properties.