Abstract
The effects of coupling agent on the interface characteristics between epoxy resin and natural zeolite were studied by SEM, optical microscope and universal testing machine (UTM). Epoxy resin as a matrix was diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA)/4,4'-methylene dianiline (MDA)/malononitrile (MN) system and natural zeolite as an inorganic fillet was produced in Korea. With the increment of zeolite content, tensile strength decreased and it was due to the different elastic moduli of two materials. When external stress was loaded on the composites, the stress concentrated on the weakly bonded interface and crack grew easily. To improve the interface characteristics, the surface of the natural zeolite was treated with the silane coupling agent and it was found that the tensile strength was increased. The morphology of the interface showed that the bonding characteristics were modified by coupling agent.