SAXS Characterization of New Nanocomposites Based on Epoxy Resin/Siloxane/MMA/Acrylic Acid Hybrid Materials

Epoxy anhydride networks were modified with Siloxane/PMMA hybrid materials, obtained from sol/gel method. The effects of thermal annealing of the Siloxane/PMMA hybrids and of the hybrid composition on the nanostructure of the epoxy network were investigated by means of SAXS. The composites containing Siloxane/PMMA materials with low amount of MMA present a hierarchical nanostructure whose first level is made of siloxane nanoparticles spatially correlated in the matrix forming larger secondary hybrid aggregates. Small amounts of hybrid material decrease the glass temperature of the composite, but increase the storage modulus, indicating its nanoreinforcing action.