Enhanced thermo-mechanical properties of acrylic resin reinforced with silanized alumina whiskers

The acrylic resin reinforced with silanized alumina whiskers with self-healing (SH) agents was synthesized. The self-healing system consisted of microcapsules with the healing agent dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) and modified Grubbs' catalyst in PS electrospun nanofibers. The content of alumina whiskers was 3% w/w, and the concentration of PS fibers and UF microcapsules in the samples were 1% w/w each. The embedded silanized alumina whiskers achieved higher Tg and absorbed impact energy in relation to unmodified alumina whiskers. The nanoindentation test revealed the reduced modulus increased for about 65% and hardness increased is about 90% for composites with silanized whiskers. Cracks were induced on the composite surface using the low energy impact test machine. The self-healing efficiency of 74% was approved by the repeated impact test after 96 h.