Abstract
Resistance to sea‐water penetration in fiber‐reinforced polymer composites is highly desirable for marine applications. This can be achieved by incorporating nanoparticles into polymer matrix, due to high aspect ratio of the platelets where small percentage of nanoclay particles properly dispersed in matrix can generate very large surface area for polymer/filler interactions. However, effective dispersion aiming for exfoliation and intercalation of nanoclays in resin is one of the major challenges faced for manufacturing of nanocomposites. In the present work, a suitable protocol is established for effective dispersion of Cloisite 15A nanoparticles in vinylester resin matrix. Dispersion study is conducted for different loading levels of nanoparticles and parameters are optimized. The extent of dispersion is characterized by performing X‐ray diffraction and high resolution transmission electronic microscopic image analysis. It is found that overnight swelling of nanoclays in resin followed by 45 min of ultrasonication at 220 V, 50–60 Hz frequency and 0.5 cycle per sec results in good amount of interaction with certain degree of exfoliation for loading level up to 6%. The nano particle dispersed resin is characterized to study the effect of nanoparticles on key manufacturing properties of resin matrix like rheology and cure kinetics. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 23:E51–E57, 2017. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers
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