Preparation of epoxy blends with nanoparticles by acoustic levitation technique

Three types of blends consisting of nano‐Al2O3 particles, polyester, and epoxy resin were respectively prepared as suspended small balls in an acoustical levitator with a microgravity state. The microstructures of the blends were compared to those with identical composition prepared in a normal gravity field. The results showed that the nanoparticles was deposited at the bottom of blends, and the polyester possessed a sphere‐crystalline‐dispersed phase when the blends were prepared in the normal gravity field. However, the nanoparticles can be dispersed into epoxy resin at a nanoscale, and the polyester transformed to a highly dispersed amorphous phase when the blends were prepared by the acoustic levitation technique. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 84–89, 2002