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Depth sensing indentation of nanoscale graphene platelets in nanocomposite thin films

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

Ardavan Zandiatashbar
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical, Aeronautical and Nuclear Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, NY, 12180, U.S.A.
Catalin R. Picu
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical, Aeronautical and Nuclear Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, NY, 12180, U.S.A.
Nikhil Koratkar
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical, Aeronautical and Nuclear Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, NY, 12180, U.S.A.
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Abstract

Significant improvement of mechanical properties was observed recently in graphene platelet-epoxy nanocomposites relative to unfilled epoxy, such as an increase of the fracture toughness by 50% and dramatic decrease of fatigue crack growth rate. In this work, thin films of 0.1 wt.% of graphene platelet (GPL) – epoxy nanocomposites were fabricated and the nanoscale mechanical properties of the nanocomposite were investigated by nanoindentation. This provides information about the presence of characteristic length scales induced by the microstructure and the strength of the filler-matrix interface.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2011

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References

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