Preparation a blue color epoxy/clay nanocomposite with a better color performance

In this work, a blue nanopigment was synthesized by using a cation exchange between a cationic dye (i.e. methylene blue, MB) and a nanoclay (i.e. Cloisite 15A). It’s expected to prepare a pigment with both inorganic and organic features and use it for the preparation of an epoxy/clay nanocomposite. The cationic exchange was performed in three levels (30, 60 and 100% of CEC based on theoretical value). The prepared nanopigments were used in epoxy resin matrix to study the appearance, physical and mechanical properties of the prepared nanocomposites. In addition, another blue epoxy composite was prepared by using an organic pigment (namely, phthalocyanine). Results showed that the thermal and UV stability and color performance of epoxy composite prepared by using nanopigments were better than that for epoxy/phthalocyanine composite. The DMTA results showed that the elastic modulus of both epoxy composites was almost the same.

Keywords:

Nanoclay , Nanopigment , Organic pigments , Methylene blue , Epoxy nanocomposite