High performance epoxy resin nanocomposites containing both organic montmorillonite and castor oil-polyurethane

Summary Epoxy resin/polyurethane interpenetrating polymer network nanocomposites with various contents of organophilic montmorillonite (oM-EP/PU nanocomposites) were prepared by a sequential polymeric technique and an in situ intercalation method. X-ray diffraction(XRD), and transmission electronic microscopy(TEM) analysis showed that organophilic montmorillonite (oMMT) disperses uniformly in epoxy resin/polyurethane interpenetrating networks(IPNs), and the intercalated or exfoliated microstructures of oMMT are formed. Differential scanning calorimetry(DSC) test proved that oMMT promotes the compatibility of EP phase and PU phase, and glass transition temperature(T_g) of oM-EP/PU nanocomposites improves with increasing oMMT content. Mechanical properties tests and thermal gravity analysis (TGA) indicated that oMMT and the IPNs of EP and PU exhibit synergistic effect on improving mechanical and thermal properties of pure EP. The mechanism of toughing and reinforcing of oM-EP/PU nanocomposites was further discussed by scanning electronic microscope(SEM).