Improvement of cavitation resistance of composite films using functionalized alumina particles

Composite films having the UV cured Bis-GMA (Bisphenol A glycidylmethacrylate)/TEGDMA (triethylene glycol dimethacrylate) as a matrix and the ferrous oxide doped alumina (Al2O3 Fe) based particles were prepared and subjected to cavitation. In order to improve the mechanical and adhesion properties of composites, four different surface modifications of filler particles were performed: 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MEMO), vinyltris(2-methoxyethoxy)silane (VTMOEO), (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTMS) and biodiesel (BD). Composite films were made with 0.5,1.5, and 3 wt.% of ferrous oxide doped alumina particles with each of the mentioned surface modifications. Composite films were prepared on brass substrates and exposed to cavitation erosion. The erosion was monitored using the mass loss while image analysis was used to observe surface defects. The composite film reinforced with Al2O3 Fe having VTMOEO as a surface modifier was the most resistant one in terms of mass loss, as well as the level of surface destruction. Results were compared to the same polymer matrix film and composite films prepared with fillers without surface modifications revealing that all composites with surface modified fillers exhibited some improvement in resistance to cavitation.