Thermosetting polymers in cold sintering: The fabrication of ZnO‐polydimethylsiloxane composites

Abstract

This study reports the fabrication of the first ceramics‐thermosetting polymer composites by the cold sintering process, for high ceramic volume fractions (v/v >95%). The (1 − x) ZnO − x polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composites, with 0.00 ≤ x ≤ 0.05, were cold sintered at 250°C, 320 MPa for 60 minutes. In situ densification studies conducted with the help of a semi‐automated press revealed that the mechanisms driving the densification of the material changes with the polymer content. Relative densities of the (1 − x) ZnO − x PDMS composites (0.00 ≤ x ≤ 0.05) were above 90%. Impedance spectroscopy of the composites yields insight into the ceramic‐polymer interfaces within the sintered ZnO bulk and suggests long‐range conduction governed by ZnO‐PDMS interface properties for x = 0.03 and x = 0.05. The study also emphasizes on the complexities and opportunities of such ceramic‐dominated ceramic‐polymer composites.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Jan 31, 2020
Source ID
10.1111/jace.17009

Entities

People

  • Arnaud Ndayishimiye
  • Clive A. Randall
  • Ke Wang
  • Kosuke Tsuji
  • Sun Hwi Bang
  • Zane A. Grady

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • Pennsylvania State University

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Materials science

Readers

  • Mechanical Engineering/Mechanics of Materials.
  • Nanoscale Plasmonic Nanotechnology
  • Structural Health Monitoring of Composite Structures.