ON THE COMPRESSIVE ELASTICITY OF EPOXY-RESINS FILLED WITH HOLLOW GLASS MICROSPHERES

The mechanical properties of a hollow glass microsphere-filled epoxy r esin composite system were investigated in air as a function of the we ight content of particles ranging from 0 to 15.38% (wt/wt). The analys is based. on necessarily modified classical models together with struc tural observations enabled explanation of the composition dependencies of elastic moduli of the blends studied. It was found that, together with a presumption of no interfacial adhesion between the filler and m atrix, an interlayer of immobilized matrix with changed mechanical pro perties compared to the formal matrix seems to strongly affect the mec hanical behavior of the composite. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.