Mechanical, thermal and fire retardation behaviours of nanoclay/vinylester nanocomposites

作者：Mahesh K R Vishnu; Murthy H N Narasimha^*; Swamy B E Kumara; Sharma S C; Sridhar R; Pattar Niranjan; Krishna M; Sherigara B S

来源：Frontiers of Materials Science, 2011, 5(4): 401-411.

DOI：10.1007/s11706-011-0149-x

• twin-screw extrusion
• montmorillonite
• nanoclay
• nanocomposite
• vinylester

The dispersion of montmorillonite (MMT) in vinylester for preparing nanoclay/vinylester gel coat was reported. Two sets of MMT/vinylester specimens, namely Type 1 and Type 2, were prepared for comparative studies. Type 1 specimens were prepared using ultrasonication only, and Type 2 specimens were prepared using both ultrasonication and twin-screw extrusion. According to XRD and TEM results, Type 2 specimens showed lower levels of nanoclay agglomeration and higher levels of exfoliation. DSC results showed that the glass transition temperatures of Type 2 specimens are higher than those of Type 1 specimens. TGA results showed that the residual weight of 4 wt.% MMT/vinylester of Type 1 was 7.38%, while the corresponding value of Type 2 was 13.5%, indicating lower thermal degradation in the latter. MMT/vinylester/glass and MMT/vinylester/carbon specimens were fabricated and tested for mechanical and fire retardation behaviours. Type 2 based nanocomposite laminates showed greater values of ultimate tensile strength, flexural strength, interlaminar shear strength, impact strength, horizontal burning rate, and vertical burning rate than Type 1 based laminates. SEM images of tensile fractured surfaces revealed that Type 2 based laminates have no or less agglomeration of nanoclay than Type 1 based laminates.

• 出版日期2011-12