Comprehensive high‐performance epoxy nanocomposites co‐reinforced by organo‐montmorillonite and nano‐SiO₂

Abstract

Comprehensive high-performance epoxy nanocomposites were successfully prepared by co-incorporating organo-montmorillonite (o-MMT) and nano-SiO 2 into epoxy matrix. Because of the strong interaction between nanoscale particles, the MMT layers were highly exfoliated, and the exfoliated nanoscale MMT monoplatelets took an interlacing arrangement with the nano-SiO 2 particles in the epoxy matrix, as evidenced by X-ray diffraction measurement and transmission electron microscopy inspection. Mechanical tests and thermal analyses showed that the resulting epoxy/ o-MMT/nano-SiO 2 nanocomposites improved substantially over pure epoxy and epoxy/o-MMT nanocomposites in tensile modulus, tensile strength, flexural modulus, flexural strength, notch impact strength, glass transition temperature, and thermal decomposition temperature. This study suggests that co-incorporating two properly selected nanoscale particles into polymer is one pathway to success in preparing comprehensive high-performance polymer nanocomposites.

Synergistic reinforcement of epoxy/basalt fiber composites with dimensionally different nanoparticles

“…The two nanoparticles take an interlacing arrangement and disperse homogeneously in the epoxy to form networks that trap many epoxy molecules within them. In the networks, the three substances interact with each other and assemble into inorganic–organic complexes . Since the nanoparticles in the complexes have similar polarity and valence bond types to basalt fibers, the affinity between the complexes and basalt fibers is strong enough to overcome the aggregating force between adjacent basalt fibers, making the complexes readily infiltrate into basalt fiber bundles and firmly adsorb onto basalt fiber surfaces.…”