Thermomechanical Characterization Of Organo-Clay Epoxy Nanocomposites for Use in Civil Infrastructure

Abstract

ABSTRACT Epoxy nanocomposites based on organically treated clays been researched extensively for use in aerospace, automotive, and electronic packaging applications. The potential low cost, decreased diffusivity and moisture uptake, and increase in stiffness and toughness, as well as the ability of the nanoclay particles to serve as a flame retardants and decrease flammability make these materials of immense interest for civil infrastructure applications especially as related to addressing long-term durability. This work analyzes the cure, thermomechanical (DMTA), moisture uptake and tensile characteristics of montmorillonite-epoxy nanocomposites. It is shown that the organo-clays serve as a catalyst for the curing reaction and reduced the exothermal peak temperatures with an increase in activation energy of cure at higher degrees of conversion. The nanocomposites demonstrated enhanced stiffness, relatively minor drops in glass transition temperature, increased thermal stability, and substantially decreased water uptake and diffusion rates, emphasizing their potential for use in civil infrastructure applications wherein nonaerospace cure techniques are used.