<i>In situ</i> solvothermal synthesis and characterization of transparent epoxy/TiO₂ nanocomposites

Abstract

Abstract A solvothermal process was developed to in situ prepare epoxy (EP)/TiO 2 hybrid precursors. The chemical structure of samples was confirmed by X‐ray and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy. Field emission scanning electron microscope micrographs of cured EP/TiO 2 hybrid composites showed that well‐dispersed TiO 2 nanoparticles were successfully in situ formed in epoxy matrix through the solvothermal process. The thermogravimetic analysis, DSC, and gel content measurements showed that EP/TiO 2 hybrid precursors were fully cured with the glass transition temperature decreasing gradually. The effect of TiO 2 contents on optical and surface properties was investigated in detail. The results indicated that epoxy/TiO 2 nanocomposites exhibited excellent UV shielding effect and high visible light transparency. The contact angle of EP/TiO 2 nanocomposites, when the content of silane‐coupling agent (KH560) was 5 g and the content of tetrabutyl titanate (TBT) was 3 g, can reach as high as 101°, which was 36° higher than that of pure EP, representing for the increase of hydrophobicity. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012