Preparation and Properties of Organic Rectorite/Epoxy Resin Nano-Composites

Abstract

Five kinds of organic rectorite (OREC)-reinforced Epoxy Resin (EP) composites (OREC/EP) were prepared by using different ORECs as modifiers. The curing process of EP, the functional groups of OREC and its interlayer distance (d-spacing) are demonstrated by Fourier Transform Infrared Radiation (FTIR) and XRD (X-Ray Diffraction). The morphologies of OREC/EP composites and the dispersion of OREC in the cured EP matrix were investigated using XRD and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The mechanical properties, thermal deformed temperature (HDT), hot-wet resistance, alkali resistance and water adsorption of the resulting OREC/EP composites were evaluated. It is found that the addition of OREC can improve the comprehensive properties of EP. The maximum mechanical properties of OREC/EP can be obtained by OREC3/EMI-2, 4/E-51 due to the high stiffness and uniform dispersion of OREC in matrixes. The most desirable properties of OREC/EP composites were obtained with impact strength of 9.5 kJ/m 2 , bent strength of 86 KPa and HDT of 182 C, all of which is improved by 8.0%, 8.9% and 28.2% than those of pure EP, respectively. INTRODUCTIONEpoxy resin (EP) has been used in many fields because of its cheapness and wide practicality [1][2][3][4][5] . However, its lower impact strength and weak hot wet-resistance strength limit its extensive applications. Many researchers are working on the aspect of improving the impact and hot resistance properties of EP [6][7][8] . In recent years, polymer= layered silicate nano-composites have attracted considerable interest because they possesses the structure, physical, and chemical properties of both inorganic and organic materials [9][10][11][12] .Most work on polymer=layered silicate nanocomposites has focused on montmorillonite (MMT), hectorite, and saponite modifications, and so on [10][11][12][13][14][15][16] .Rectorite (REC) with structure and characteristics similar to montmorillonite might be preferred for layered silicates because of its cheapness. It is a type of regularly interstratified clay mineral with alternate pairs of dioctahedral mica-like layer (nonexpansible) and dioctahedral montmorillonite-like layer (expansible) in a 1:1 ratio. The separable layer thickness and layer aspect ratio (area thickness) of REC are larger than those of regular montmorillonite.These characteristics may be favorable for forming the intercalated or exfoliated nano-composites, and help to improve the efficiency of reinforcement of nano-layers in many properties [17][18][19][20][21] . Although several types of polymer=layered silicate nano-composite products with different shapes and applications-including food packaging films and containers, engine parts, dental materials, etc.-are now available in markets, polymer=layered silicate nano-composites with antimicrobial activity, which appear very favorable to the applications of nano-composites, are rarely explored.Based on previous works, organic rectorite (OREC) was prepared by means of a cation exchange mechanism in this work. Then, different k...

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