Effect of clay content on the ultraviolet-curing and physical properties of urethane-acrylate/clay nanocomposites

The effect of clay content on the ultraviolet (UV)-curing behavior and physical properties of a urethane-acrylate/clay nanocomposite system was studied. The UV-curing behavior of the nanocomposite system was investigated by monitoring the change of a characteristic IR absorption peak for acrylate groups. The UV-curing rate and final conversion of the nanocomposite system increased with increasing clay content and affected the physical properties of the nanocomposites. The thermal, mechanical and optical properties of the nanocomposites were affected by clay content. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image showed that the nanocomposites had an intercalated structure. POLYM. COMPOS., 28:325–330, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers