TENSILE AND THERMAL DEGRADATION PROPERTIES OF EPOXY NANOCOMPOSITES PREPARED BY BULK POLIMERIZATION

Abstract

The tensile and thermal degradation properties of the nanocomposites were determined with quantities of pristine and organically modified clays between 1 and 3% w/w. It was found that the values of the Young’s modulus is independent of the amount of clay. The dispersion of the inorganic clay Cloisite®Na+ improved the tensile properties up to 50% in tensile strength and maximum strength compared to neat polymer. The incorporation of polyethylene glycol gave plasticity and reduced the hardness of the thermosetting polymer. It was determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) that the clays reduce the stability of the neat polymer. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used as analytical techniques in prepared nanocomposites by bulk polymerization with polyethylene glycol (PEG). The nanocomposites, the clays and the neat thermosetting polymer cross-linking reaction were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).