Epoxy/Layered Silicate Nanocomposites: Factors Influencing Morphology

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Amongst the thermoset materials, epoxy resins exhibit special chemical characteristics such as the absence of  by-products or volatiles during curing reactions, low shrinkage on cure, curability over a wide temperature range and the controllable degree of cross-linking. Due to excellent chemical and heat resistance, high adhesive strength, good impact resistance, high strength and hardness, and high electrical insulation epoxy resins are recognized as versatile materials. Nowadays, incorporation of nano-materials to reinforce polymeric matrix has attracted great interest. Among various nano-reinforcements, nano-layered silicates (nanoclays) are found to be ideal for polymers owing to their high intercalation chemistry, high aspect ratio, ease of availability and low cost. In the last decades, thermoset nanocomposites based on epoxy matrix containing layered silicates have been intensively studied aiming to obtain final products with enhanced physicomechanical properties, such as Young modulus, stiffness, fracture toughness, thermal stability, etc. The improved nanocomposite morphology (intercalation/exfoliation of nanoclay in polymer matrix) plays a key role in reinforcing epoxy resin.  Therefore, the emphasis of the present work is on parameters influencing the morphology of epoxy/nanoclay composites such as the processing techniques, clay modifier, epoxy structure, curing agents and curing conditions used for the preparation of nanocomposites.

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