Effect of Ionic Liquid on the Properties of Nanocomposites Based on Epoxy/CNT Hardened with MCDEA

Abstract

Thermosetting systems based on epoxy resin (RE) with the dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNT), have been extensively studied by the development of high-performance materials with interesting mechanical, thermal and electrical properties that the thermo-rigid system achieves with the addition of CNT, and thus contribute to obtain composites with excellent performance in low amounts of this filler. However, ensuring a good dispersion of these systems is not easy, as CNTs have a great tendency to cluster due to Van der Waals interactions. To assist in the dispersion of the systems, a phosphonium-based ionic liquid, tributyl (ethyl) -phosphonium diethyl phosphate, acted with a double role, as a dispersion agent and catalyst in systems hardened with MCDEA (4,4’-methylenebis (3 - chloro-2,6-diethylaniline), which is a solid compound giving the systems high viscosity, and with the addition of LI improved the dispersion of the systems, as well as the processability in the preparation of the nanocomposites.