Premium
Morphology and fracture behavior of intercalated epoxy/clay nanocomposites
Author(s) -
Liu Tianxi,
Tjiu Wuiwui Chauhari,
Tong Yuejin,
He Chaobin,
Goh Sok Sing,
Chung TaiShung
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.21033
Subject(s) - epoxy , materials science , organoclay , diglycidyl ether , composite material , nanocomposite , scanning electron microscope , transmission electron microscopy , dynamic mechanical analysis , bisphenol a , curing (chemistry) , toughness , fracture toughness , polymer , nanotechnology
Epoxy/clay nanocomposites were prepared by swelling organoclay in an epoxy resin, diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A, followed by curing with an aromatic hardener, diethyltoluenediamine. A combination of X‐ray diffraction with transmission electron microscopy showed the coexistence of intercalated and exfoliated clay morphologies throughout the matrix. In addition, a microscopic and homogeneous dispersion of clay agglomerations, with sizes ranging from about 2 to 5 μm, was revealed by optical microscopy. Dynamic mechanical analysis indicated a steady increase in storage modulus and a gradual decrease in high glass‐transition temperature as the clay loading increased. The fracture toughness of the nanocomposites significantly increased with increasing clay concentration, suggesting a toughening effect from the clay particles. Scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy observations of the epoxy/clay nanocomposites suggested that shear yielding of the matrix, crack deflection, voiding, and debonding of clay particles and epoxy matrix are among the operative toughening mechanisms observed. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 94: 1236–1244, 2004