Influence of network chain orientation on the mechanical property of epoxy resin filled with silica particles

When tensile stress was applied to epoxy resin filled with silica particles, we expected that the stress concentration would occur in the epoxy matrix near the interface between the matrix and the silica particles. We investigated the plastic deformation of the network chains near the interface, which was quantitatively evaluated using a polarized microscope FTIR technique. A biphenol-type epoxy resin, which has a mesogenic group in the backbone moiety, was used as the matrix resin. As a result, reorientation of the network chains along the direction of the tensile stress near the interface with the silica particles was observed. Especially when the silica/matrix interface has good bonding properties, the reorientation of the network chains was observed at a larger area around the silica particles. (C) 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.