Effect of nanofillers on curing kinetics and thermal properties of epoxy amine thermosets (poster)

The effect of nanoclay (Cloisite 30B) and MWNT (multi-walled carbon nanotube) on the curing kinetics of an epoxy-amine system were studied. In this work, diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) epoxy resin was used in combination with 4,4'-methylene dianiline (MDA) and aniline. MDA and aniline were combined to improve the mixing process of resin and hardener, and to improve the dispersion of nanofillers in the nanocomposite samples. The nanofillers were premixed with the epoxy resin by a high speed stirring process. The final samples were prepared by mixing the filled epoxy resin and the mixture of MDA and aniline. The quality of dispersion of nanofillers (intercalation/exfoliation) was analysed by atomic force microscopy and by X-ray diffraction method. Modulated temperature differential scanning calorimetry (MTDSC) was used to study the cure kinetics of both pure resin and resins with fillers. The reaction enthalpy, the initial and final glass transition temperature (Tg) of the materials and the reaction kinetics were determined for all samples by isothermal and non-isothermal cure measurements. Rheological studies were carried out to determine the point of gelation and vitrification of different samples. It was found that there is an accelerating influence of nanofillers on the curing kinetics of the system. This effect is more pronounced with nanoclay. Both nanocaly and MWNT showed that the accelerating effect is more pronounced if the nanofillers are dispersed properly in the matrix. The final Tg of the cured samples were significantly higher for nanocomposite than the pure resin.

Reference:
1. J. D. Menczel, R. B. Prime, Ed. (2009). Thermal Analysis of Polymers, WILEY - A John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Publication: 130-203.
2. T. D. Ngo, M.-T. Ton-That., S.V. Hoa, K.C. Cole (2007). "Curing kinetics and mechanical properties of epoxy nanocomposites based on different organoclays." Polymer Engineering and Science 47(5): 649-661.
3. D. Puglia, L. Valentini, I. Armentano, J. M. Kenny (2003). "Effects of single-walled carbon nanotube incorporation on the cure reaction of epoxy resin and its detection by Raman spectroscopy." Diamond and Related Materials 12: 827-832.

Jaar van publicatie:2011

Trefwoorden:nanofillers, epoxy-amine, MTDSC, nanocomposite