A novel hyperbranched polymer-modified clay/epoxy nanocomposite: physical-mechanical properties investigation

A series of epoxy-polyamide based nanocomposites is developed utilizing hyperbranched polymer (HBP)-modified nanoclay particles at various polymer to clay (P/C) ratios of 0.5, 1, 2.5, 5 and 10. The results demonstrate that HBP adsorbs on the clay lamellae and the interlayer distance becomes larger due to interfacial interactions. The greater the P/C ratio is, the better intercalated morphology is obtained. In the next step, 1 wt.% of the pristine and modified nanoclay particles is introduced into a bisphenol-A based epoxy resin and the mixture is then cured by an amido polyamine based hardener. The inferred nanocomposites are then analyzed by XRD, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). It is concluded by the outcomes that intercalated and/or exfoliated morphologies become more probable when the clays are modified by HBP and due to such nanostructure of the nanocomposites, the physical-mechanical characteristics are meaningfully enhanced.