Preparation and properties of A novel epoxidized castor oil/clay nanocomposites

A novel nanocomposites of modified clay in a glassy epoxy were prepared using a direct melt intercalation technique. The contents of oganoclay were varied with 0, 1, 2, and 3 wt% and N-benzylpyrazinium hexafluoroantimonate (BPH) was used for curing of epoxy matrix as a cationic latent catalyst. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) measurement was performed to examine the glass transition temperature of the nanocomposites. As a result, X-ray diffraction indicated the intercalation of the epoxy chains happening inside the gallery of clay. The nanocomposites showed a higher glass transition temperature and storage modulus than those of the pristine epoxy. The mechanical interfacial properties of the nanocomposites were also investigated and the improvement in tearing energy of 160% over pristine epoxy was obtained.