Preparation and Major Properties of Montmorillonite/Epoxy Nanocomposites

Abstract

Montmorillonite/epoxy nanocomposites are prepared by intercalation of monomers, which are subsequently polymerized. The results of the structure characterization of the composites by XRD and TEM showed that the composites had realized nanometer-dispersion. Additionally, the testing of mechanical and thermal properties of the nanocomposites showed that heat distortion temperature of the composite was increased by 10.5%, and plane-strain fracture toughness by 22.4%, when the ratio of ZZ-MMT(an interlayer spacing of 4.05nm) to epoxide resin was 3wt%. ExperimentalMaterials. Na + -montmorillonite(Na-MMT) used in this study was provided by 184 Bentonite Company of the 10th Agriculture Division of Xinjiang Construction Group in China, which is a fine powder with an average particle size of 75µm in the dry state, a purity of 90%, an interlayer spacing of 1.24nm, and a cation exchange capacity(CEC) of 92 mEq/100g.Two modified MMTs were used in this study. (a) ZJ-MMT was provided by Zhejiang Hongfeng Clay Company, which is a fine powder with an average particle size of 75µm, a purity of 95% and an interlayer spacing of 2.57nm. (b) ZZ-MMT was prepared through ion-exchange reaction of the above Na-MMT with long-chain alkylammonium chloride salts, with a purity of 90% and an interlayer spacing of 4.05nm.The epoxide resin, E-44, a diglycidyl ether of bis-phenol A was purchased from Wuxi Xingchen Chemical Resin Company. The curing agent(METHPA) was provided by the Chemistry

The detection of doping by means of chromatographic methods

“…The toughness of nylon‐6, the T g of which is close to room temperature, was improved by the addition of clay 9. However, for epoxy resins, the addition of clay resulted in the decrease in toughness 15. Until recent, a toughed epoxy‐organoclay nanocomposite has not been developed,16 in which hexahydrophthalic acid anhydride‐cured bisphenol A diglycidyl ether was used as matrix material for hybrid nanocomposites containing compatibilized polyether liquid rubbers.…”

Molecular Dynamics Simulation of the Fracture in Polymer‐Exfoliated Layered Silicate Nanocomposites

“…A typical example are epoxy-organoclay nanocomposites. [15] Series research results [1,7,10,12] indicate that the addition of clay into those polymers with T g below or close to room temperature has significant enhancement on the mechanical properties. Tensile properties and fatigue durability of polyurethane, the T g of which is about À40 8C, were intensively enhanced by the incorporation of organoclay.…”

“…However, the addition of organoclay does not result in an enhancement of the toughness of epoxy resins. [15] In order to understand these results, it is necessary to know whether and how the difference between the relaxation time of the nanoplatelet and that of the polymer chain affects the fracture behavior of the polymer. We believe that this investigation could provide some information for the design of polymer-organoclay nanocomposites with improved mechanical properties, especially toughness.…”

“…[9] However, the addition of clay did not toughen epoxy resins. [15] Recently, a toughened epoxy-organoclay nanocomposite has been developed. [16] Hexahydrophthalic acid anhydride-cured bisphenol A diglycidyl ether was used as matrix material for hybrid nanocomposites containing compatibilized polyether liquid rubbers.…”

“…[9] However, for epoxy resins, the addition of clay resulted in the decrease in toughness. [15] Until recent, a toughed epoxy-organoclay nanocomposite has not been Summary: The MD technique was used to investigate the fracture behavior in fully exfoliated layered silicate (nanoplatelet)-polymer nanocomposites. MD results reveal that the addition of the nanoplatelets can improve the fracture strength of polymers.…”