Organofunctionalized montmorillonite/epoxy nanocomposites: The effect of interlayer cation distribution on mechanical properties

Abstract The present study indicates that a distribution of alkylammonium chain lengths in the interlayer of montmorillonite (MM) results in a greater degree of dispersion into an epoxy matrix (or possibly different polymer matrices) and improved ultimate tensile strengths. This hypothesis is supported by x‐ray diffraction (XRD) data from the modified MM clays, which clearly shows that an increase in d‐spacing does not result in an improvement in tensile strengths. Additional support is obtained from DSC analyses of the first and second heats of the treated clays which indicate that the C6 alkyl amine in a deposited (C18 + C6) alkyl ammonium mixture results in intercalation pathways for the epoxy resin. POLYM. COMPOS., 2011. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers