EPOXY CLAY HYBRID (ECH) NANOCOMPOSITES: STRATEGIES FOR THE DISPERSION OF CLAY PLATELETS IN AMINE-CURED EPOXY RESINS

摘要

A brief review of the research literature that deals with the exfoliation of montmorillonite clay exchanged with ω-amino acid and long-chain alkylamines is presented. From this review data, clay-matrix adhesion, in addition to clay-platelet dispersion, are consider as critical-path parameters for the development of structural nanocomposites. In an attempt to identify a suitable functionalized clay surface, we assess the feasibility of using ω-hydroxylamines as a potential candidate to fullfill these two requirements. In this research, readily available short-chain ω- hydroxylamines amines and alkylamines of comparable chain length are ion exchanged with the Na+ ions on the clay surface. X-Ray Diffraction data revealed that the basal spacing of the two classes of ammonium salts are very similar, suggesting that ω-hydroxylamines of suitable chain length may provide a route for enhancing the adhesion between the clay platelets and the epoxy amine matrix, while promoting dispersion during the epoxy-amine chemical reaction.