Abstract
Resin composition, silicate filler modification, and curing agents were varied systematically in order to improve the performance of anhydride-cured epoxy nanocomposites based upon organoclay. The filler component was fluorohectorite which was rendered organophilic by means of cation exchange of intergallery sodium cations for protonated alkylamines with chain lengths variable from butyl (C4), hexyl (C6), octyl (C8), decyl (C10), dodecyl (C12), hexadecyl (C16), octadecyl (C18) to 12-aminododecanoic acid (C12A). The alkyl chain length must exceed six C atoms to afford increased interlayer distances, accompanied by increased stiffness. Compatibilizer addition such as epoxidized and maleinated soy bean oil or dodecenylsuccinate afforded improved tensile strength without sacrificing stiffness and toughness. Morphology development, determined by means of transmission electron microscopy, and fracture behavior were examined.
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