Effect of bonding characteristics of major constituents of mineral filler-based glass fiber reinforced with epoxy composites.

In the present study, attempt has been made in understanding the bonding behaviour of mineral filler when it is introduced with epoxy matrix structured with e-glass fibre at molecular level. Firstly, filler content in GFRP composite was analysed through Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Here, Silicon dioxide has been chosen as a representative for E-glass fibre as Silicon dioxide holds major part in the composition of an E-glass fibre. DFT simulation techniques has been employed to study the reaction in between them. In order to increase the binding capability, wollastonite has been introduced into the system and many possible configurations were modelled for study. Out of all the models, the model with the highest dipole moment and stability has been considered. Spectral studies such as NMR, VCD and IR studies has been done to witness the oxygen atoms in the glass fibre acted as the connecting bridge in between the silicon atoms of the glass fibre and the carbon atoms of the epoxy resin. But these alone were not enough to obtain a stable structure that was described above. The calcium atoms in the wollastonite acted as better electron bridges and support for the complex. This work majorly focusses on the interactions between epoxy resin(ly556) and SiO molecule and the filler material wollastonite (CaSiO).