Deformations of microindentations on glassy epoxy mixed with silica nanoparticles

The change in the deformation properties of epoxy polymers after the addition of silica nanoparticles has been studied. It was shown that the addition of nanoparticles results in the polymer structural changes similar to the plasticization effect (increased mobility of the polymer chain). Nature of the stress relaxation kinetics significantly changed. In particular, for polymer with 1.6 wt% of nanoparticles, a complete recovery of the microindentation effect was observed (healing of indentation). The change in the activation energy of thermally stimulated relaxation of frozen inelastic deformations in an epoxy polymer was determined. The volume of atoms delocalization of the modified resin was estimated.