Achieving high thermal and mechanical properties of epoxy nanocomposites via incorporation of dopamine interfaced clay

The uniform dispersion of clay in epoxy matrix and strong interfacial bonding between clay platelet and epoxy chains are crucial for achieving epoxy/clay with enhanced thermal and mechanical properties. In this study, dopamine hydrochloride was intercalated into the galleries of clay via ion‐exchange reaction with an aim to improve the dispersion and interfacial bonding with the epoxy matrix. Dopamine intercalated clay (D‐clay) was characterized by X‐ray photoelectron spectrum, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, and X‐ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. Epoxy/D‐clay nanocomposites had been prepared by curing process of epoxy E51, Jeffamine D230, and D‐clay with 1, 2, 3, and 4 wt%, respectively. The structure of epoxy/D‐clay nanocomposites was characterized by XRD, scanning electron microscopy, and Transmission electron microscopy, respectively. The enhanced thermal properties and mechanical properties such as tensile strength, tensile modulus, and hardness were enhanced considerably compared with neat epoxy resin. The results found that the inclusion of 3 wt% D‐clay in the epoxy resin showed increase in T_g of 10.09°C, 29.34% increase in tensile strength, 23.19% increase in tensile modulus, and 53.87% increase in vickers hardness compared with neat epoxy resin. The uniform dispersion of clay platelets and strong interfacial hydrogen bonding between D‐clay and epoxy matrix afforded efficient load transfer across the epoxy‐clay interface, leading to significantly improved thermal and mechanical properties. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E2407–E2414, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers