STUDYING EPOXY RESIN REINFORCED WITH SILICA DIOXIDE NANOPARTICLES BY MICROINDENTATION
The Primer 204 epoxy resin with different contents of silica dioxide nanoparticles is investigated by microindentation. The effect of loading time and particles distribution inside the polymer matrix on Martens hardness is examined. The creep of epoxy resin at various hold times is investigated. A quantitative relation of the micromechanical properties to the volume content of silica dioxide nanoparticles is established. The processed experimental data has demonstrated that the test material exhibits viscous properties manifested in the presence of creep.