Experimental Piezospectroscopic Measurements To Study Load Transfer In A Single Alumina Particle Embedded Within An Epoxy Matrix

The addition of alumina into an epoxy matrix enables the non-invasive study of the load transfer between the particle (alumina) and the matrix material (epoxy). This ability stems from the photoluminescence (PL) characteristics of alumina, whose peak position is dependent on the stress the alumina sustains, also known as piezospectroscopy (PS). In this work, samples with an isolated particle embedded in a matrix were created to replicate the ideal assumptions for many particulate mechanical models. Photo stimulated luminescent spectroscopy was used to collect the spectral emission from the mechanically loaded samples. Results from this work will provide experimental insight into the load transfer properties of particulate composites that have gained significance for their improved mechanical properties. Findings from this experimental data can serve to experimentally validate the theoretical and numerical load transfer models that currently exist. Copyright 2014. Used by the Society of the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering with permission