High Enhanced Efficiency and Mechanism of Ultra-Long SiC Nanowires in Composites

Ultra-long SiC nanowires with large aspect ratios of 2x10(4-5) were incorporated successfully into epoxy resin to form SiC nanowires/epoxy composite via a preliminary homogenously dispersive process in ethanol. 9.7 and 13.3% bending strength increases were achieved for the composites with the addition of very small quantity (0.1 and 0.125wt%) of ultra-long SiC nanowires. The prepared ultra-long SiC nanowires have the highest enhanced efficiency than other shorter ones in epoxy resin composites. Microstructure analysis implies that the nanowire disperse homogenously in the composite and have well combination with matrix. The ultra-long nanowires can exert their extraordinary high modulus and tensile strength of SiC nanowires in this condition. The obtained high enhanced efficiency is the mutual effect of high modulus and strength, large aspect ratio, fine distributed state, moderate interface bondings, and formed a three-dimensional network of the ultra-long SiC nanowires.