A curing kinetic model of montmorillonite layered silicate nanocomposite

Recent advances in polymer layered silicate nanocomposites especially improved all of properties, encourages the examination of this unique class of evolving materials as potential industrial application and heat insulator. The resol type phenolic resin is widely used as a polymeric matrix in heat and electric resistance composite and nanocomposite. The effect of montmorillonite on the cure kinetics of resol type phenolic resin/organomontmorillonite (Org- MMT) nanocomposite is investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and by a single-heating-rate DSC method. The XRD result indicates that an exfoliated nanocomposite was obtained. The experimental data obtained from DSC are explained by the phase boundary method. The addition of Org-MMT reduces the gelation time tg, and increases the rate of the curing reaction and the value of the kinetic constant k. the values of kinetic constant k rise as the cure temperature increases. The nanocomposite has a larger value of k and smaller value of n and E comparing with the phenolic resin system without Org-MMT.

Keywords:

Nanocomposite , Resol Resin , Curing , Kinetic Parameters