New Nanocomposites Based on Epoxy Resins Reinforced with Modified Montmorillonite

Abstract

New nanocomposites based on diglycidyl ether of resorcinol (DGER) and modified montmorillonite were synthesized. The montmorillonite was modified with some protonated adducts synthesized by reacting different aromatic and aliphatic epoxies with cyclohexylamine. The chemical structure of the adducts was investigated by 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR. The quantity of organic cations exchanged between the silicate layers and the adducts and also the thermal stability of these modified compounds were determined from thermogravimetric analyses. The nanocomposite structure was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed that the modifier of the clay strongly influences the glass transition temperature of the nanocomposites.