Microstructure of Epoxy-Based Composites: Fractal Nature Analysis
Authors
Stajčić, IvanaStajčić, Aleksandar

Serpa, Cristina
Vasiljević-Radović, Dana

Randjelović, Branislav
Radojević, Vesna

Fecht, Hans

Article (Published version)
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Show full item recordAbstract
Polymers and polymer matrix composites are commonly used materials with applications extending from packaging materials to delicate electronic devices. Epoxy resins and fiber-reinforced epoxy-based composites have been used as adhesives and construction parts. Fractal analysis has been recognized in materials science as a valuable tool for the microstructural characterization of composites by connecting fractal characteristics with composites’ functional properties. In this study, fractal reconstructions of different microstructural shapes in an epoxy-based composite were performed on field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images. These images were of glass fiber reinforced epoxy as well as a hybrid composite containing both glass and electrospun polystyrene fibers in an epoxy matrix. Fractal reconstruction enables the identification of self-similarity in the fractal structure, which represents a novelty in analyzing the fractal properties of materials. Fractal Real Finder... software, based on the mathematical affine fractal regression model, was employed to reconstruct different microstructure shapes and calculate fractal dimensions to develop a method of predicting the optimal structure–property relations in composite materials in the future.
Keywords:
fractal reconstruction / epoxy composites / fiber reinforcement / FESEM analysisSource:
Fractal and Fractional, 2022, 6, 12, 741-Publisher:
- MDPI
Funding / projects:
- Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Republic of Serbia, Grant no. 200017 (University of Belgrade, Institute of Nuclear Sciences 'Vinča', Belgrade-Vinča) (RS-200017)
- Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Republic of Serbia, Grant no. 200026 (University of Belgrade, Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy - IChTM) (RS-200026)
- ESA ThermoLab-ISS/project AO-2009-1020
- Portuguese National Funding from FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia under the project: UIDB/04561/2020
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IHTMTY - JOUR AU - Stajčić, Ivana AU - Stajčić, Aleksandar AU - Serpa, Cristina AU - Vasiljević-Radović, Dana AU - Randjelović, Branislav AU - Radojević, Vesna AU - Fecht, Hans PY - 2022 UR - https://cer.ihtm.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/5571 AB - Polymers and polymer matrix composites are commonly used materials with applications extending from packaging materials to delicate electronic devices. Epoxy resins and fiber-reinforced epoxy-based composites have been used as adhesives and construction parts. Fractal analysis has been recognized in materials science as a valuable tool for the microstructural characterization of composites by connecting fractal characteristics with composites’ functional properties. In this study, fractal reconstructions of different microstructural shapes in an epoxy-based composite were performed on field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images. These images were of glass fiber reinforced epoxy as well as a hybrid composite containing both glass and electrospun polystyrene fibers in an epoxy matrix. Fractal reconstruction enables the identification of self-similarity in the fractal structure, which represents a novelty in analyzing the fractal properties of materials. Fractal Real Finder software, based on the mathematical affine fractal regression model, was employed to reconstruct different microstructure shapes and calculate fractal dimensions to develop a method of predicting the optimal structure–property relations in composite materials in the future. PB - MDPI T2 - Fractal and Fractional T1 - Microstructure of Epoxy-Based Composites: Fractal Nature Analysis VL - 6 IS - 12 SP - 741 DO - 10.3390/fractalfract6120741 ER -
@article{ author = "Stajčić, Ivana and Stajčić, Aleksandar and Serpa, Cristina and Vasiljević-Radović, Dana and Randjelović, Branislav and Radojević, Vesna and Fecht, Hans", year = "2022", abstract = "Polymers and polymer matrix composites are commonly used materials with applications extending from packaging materials to delicate electronic devices. Epoxy resins and fiber-reinforced epoxy-based composites have been used as adhesives and construction parts. Fractal analysis has been recognized in materials science as a valuable tool for the microstructural characterization of composites by connecting fractal characteristics with composites’ functional properties. In this study, fractal reconstructions of different microstructural shapes in an epoxy-based composite were performed on field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images. These images were of glass fiber reinforced epoxy as well as a hybrid composite containing both glass and electrospun polystyrene fibers in an epoxy matrix. Fractal reconstruction enables the identification of self-similarity in the fractal structure, which represents a novelty in analyzing the fractal properties of materials. Fractal Real Finder software, based on the mathematical affine fractal regression model, was employed to reconstruct different microstructure shapes and calculate fractal dimensions to develop a method of predicting the optimal structure–property relations in composite materials in the future.", publisher = "MDPI", journal = "Fractal and Fractional", title = "Microstructure of Epoxy-Based Composites: Fractal Nature Analysis", volume = "6", number = "12", pages = "741", doi = "10.3390/fractalfract6120741" }
Stajčić, I., Stajčić, A., Serpa, C., Vasiljević-Radović, D., Randjelović, B., Radojević, V.,& Fecht, H.. (2022). Microstructure of Epoxy-Based Composites: Fractal Nature Analysis. in Fractal and Fractional MDPI., 6(12), 741. https://doi.org/10.3390/fractalfract6120741
Stajčić I, Stajčić A, Serpa C, Vasiljević-Radović D, Randjelović B, Radojević V, Fecht H. Microstructure of Epoxy-Based Composites: Fractal Nature Analysis. in Fractal and Fractional. 2022;6(12):741. doi:10.3390/fractalfract6120741 .
Stajčić, Ivana, Stajčić, Aleksandar, Serpa, Cristina, Vasiljević-Radović, Dana, Randjelović, Branislav, Radojević, Vesna, Fecht, Hans, "Microstructure of Epoxy-Based Composites: Fractal Nature Analysis" in Fractal and Fractional, 6, no. 12 (2022):741, https://doi.org/10.3390/fractalfract6120741 . .