Abstract

Preparation And Characterization Of Epoxy-Clay Nano composites Using Butadiene Acrylonitrile-Montmorillonite Intercalates

Author(s): Nehal Salahuddin

Epoxy–clay nanocomposites have been prepared by dispersing amine terminated butadiene acrylonitrile grafted montmorillonite(ATBNMMT) in an epoxy resin (diglycidylether of bisphenol-A, DGEBA) and curing in the presence of polyoxypropylene diamine at 80-120°C. ATBNMMT was prepared by an ion exchange between the onium salt of butadiene acrylonitrile copolymer and the interlamellar sodium cation of MMT. X-ray diffraction (XRD) data confirms the intercalation of ATBN between the layers. Although XRD data for epoxy nanoc omposites reveals the absence of the peak characteristic to d001 spacing, transmission electron microscopy, confirms the presence of mineral rich domains with an average size of 150 nm. These domains consist of multiplets and the average spacing between the multiplets was 100 Å. A good wetting of the silicate surface by the epoxy matrix and absence of large mineral aggregates was confirmed using scanning electron microscopy. Epoxy nanocomposites have higher decomposition temperature in comparison with the original epoxy. A significant increase in hardness was observed in composites containing ATBNMMT up to 6wt%.