The optical and thermal properties of prepared epoxy/silica composites
with different concentration were studied. The optical results were obtained in
the wavelength range( 400-800 nm). The absorption coefficient and the optical
energy gap (Eopt) have been obtained from non-direct allowed
transitions in k-space at room temperature. The tails width of localized states
in the band gap (ΔE) was evaluated using the Urbach-edges method. It was found
that both (Eopt) and (ΔE) vary with silica concentration in the
composite. The thermal conductivity and thermal resistivities of epoxy/silica
composite have been
studied as a function of temperature. It was found that the thermal
conductivity increases with temperature and silica concentration