Preparation and characterization of epoxy nanocomposites by using PEO-grafted silica particles as modifier

EP/SiO₂ nanocomposites, which contained PEO flexible chain, have been prepared via epoxy resin and PEO-grafted silica particles. The PEO-silica particles were obtained by endcapping PEO-1000 with toluene 2,4-diisocyanate (TDI), followed by a reaction with silica sols. The chemical structure of the products was confirmed by IR measurements, and the mechanical properties of composites such as impact strength, flexural strength, dynamic mechanical thermal properties were investigated. The results showed that the addition of the PEO-grafted silica particles to the epoxy/DDS curing system, the impact strength is 2 times higher than that of the neat epoxy. While the storage modulus and the glass transition temperature are a little changed. The morphological structure of impact fracture surface and the surface of the hybrid materials were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), respectively.