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Preparation of SiO 2 /epoxy nanocomposite via reverse microemulsion in situ polymerization
Author(s) -
Liu Dan,
He Gaohong,
Zeng XinAn,
Sun DaWen,
Li Xiangcun
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
polymer composites
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.577
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1548-0569
pISSN - 0272-8397
DOI - 10.1002/pc.22791
Subject(s) - microemulsion , materials science , nanocomposite , epoxy , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , chemical engineering , polymerization , in situ polymerization , miscibility , flexural strength , composite number , pulmonary surfactant , thermogravimetric analysis , composite material , polymer , engineering
Reverse water/oil (w/o) microemulsions composed of epoxy resin (EP) (the oil phase) and nonionic surfactant and ammonia aqueous solutions (the water phase) were used in the synthesis of SiO2/EP nanocomposites. The stability of reverse microemulsion was evaluated by measuring water solubilization of the microemulsion. Effects of surfactant type and content, ammonia concentration and temperature on the water solubilization were systematically investigated. Higher water solubilization capacity was obtained by nonionic surfactant TX‐100 compared with other two surfactants, Span‐80 and Tween‐80. Ammonia concentration of 5 wt% and preparation temperature at 35°C were favorable for forming a stable microemulsion and enabling the subsequent hydrolysis and condensation reaction of inorganic precursor tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). SiO2/ epoxy nanocomposites were prepared via in situ polymerization of TEOS within the nanoscale reverse microemulsion “water pool”. FTIR, SEM, and universal testing machine were used to characterize the structural and mechanical properties of the composite. The results revealed that the optimal mechanical properties were obtained at 3 wt% TEOS content. Compared with neat epoxy resin, the tensile and flexural strength of the composite were 40% and 12% higher, respectively. The formation of the silica structure in the hybrid was investigated with FTIR. The SEM and optical observations showed a ductile fracture morphology and good miscibility between inorganic and organic phases. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:1388–1394, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers