Assessing Nanoscratch Behavior of Epoxy Nanocomposite Toughened with Silanized Fullerene

Fullerene (C60) is used to prepare a high-performance epoxy nanocomposite having enhanced antiscratch performance. Herein, C60 was oxidized and then silanized using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. Oxidation disaggregates the C60 to form three-dimensional interconnected chainlike networks. These networks were concealed after silanization. The formation of active functional groups on silanized C60 regulated the polymer assembly and its coordination that enhances scratch recovery index (∼32%), wear resistance (∼57%), and microhardness (∼19%) of epoxy composites. Interestingly, dual advantage due to significant enhancement in mechanical and fracture properties uplifts the potential use of silanized C60 as nanoreinforcement in epoxy. The tensile strength, elastic modulus, and fracture toughness were enhanced by ∼28%, ∼30%, and ∼67.5%, respectively, for the epoxy nanocomposites. We provide fundamentals combined with the insight into the nature of toughening due to stiffness modulation by silanized C60 that deliberates the best synergy in epoxy nanocomposite to resist nanoscratch.