Polymer Engineering Faculty Research
Title
The relationship between nano- and micro-structures and mechanical properties in PMMA-epoxy-nanoclay composites
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
Fall 2003
Abstract
Epoxy-aided dispersion of nanoclay particles in a glassy polymer, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), was studied using melt-blending technique. Organically treated nanoclay particles were dispersed in PMMA using mixtures of aromatic and aliphatic epoxies to yield three-phase composite materials, the mechanical properties of which were evaluated and compared with PMMA–nanoclay, epoxy–nanoclay, and PMMA–epoxy composite systems as function of nano- and micro-dispersed domains of phase separated epoxy and nanoparticles. Wide-angle-X-ray diffraction patterns and transmission electron microscope images revealed that the clay particles were in fully exfoliated state in the three-phase composites provided the ratio of epoxy to clay was 10. However, the dispersion of nanoclay to the scale of individual platelets was not achieved as exfoliated clay particles remained as aggregates inside phase separated epoxy domains of approximately 1 μm in diameter. Nevertheless, the values of tensile and impact strengths showed significant improvement over PMMA and PMMA–clay composites.
Volume
44
First Page
2091
Last Page
2100
Recommended Citation
Jana, Sadhan, "The relationship between nano- and micro-structures and mechanical properties in PMMA-epoxy-nanoclay composites" (2003). Polymer Engineering Faculty Research. 709.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/polymerengin_ideas/709