Research on preparation and properties of hollow glass bead filled epoxy composites

Hollow glass bead filled epoxy composites was prepared.The effect of the size,content of the hollow glass bead(HGB) and the treatment of silane coupling agent on the properties of resin and cured product were investigated by mechanical property,curing shrinkage rate and thermal property tests.The results showed that the compatibility of hollow glass bead and resin was improved by adding silane coupling agent.The mechanical properties of composites were increased with the decreasing of the hollow glass bead diameter.The tensile strength of cured materials was decreased.The impact strength and flexural strength of composites reached maximum as the content of hollow glass bead was 2%(mass fraction) and they were increased by 30% and 34.2% repectivly than the neat resin.The cured product had lower curing shrinkage rate,density and higher glass-transition temperature compared with the neat epoxy system.