engleski

Properties of epoxy based nanocomposites ; short vs long silane functionalized TiO2 nanotubes

It is well known fact that the filler size has great influence on the physical, chemical and mechanical properties of the polymer nanocomposite. Furthermore, one way for improving the nanocomposite properties is through better filler/polymer surface interactions what could be achieved by functionalization of filler. Sodium titanate nanotubes (NaTiNT) were synthesized at 115 °C by hydrothermal method. To obtain short NaTiNT the reaction lasted for 48 hours, while 72 hours were needed to obtain long NaTiNT. NaTiNT were functionalized with 3-(aminopropyl)tri- ethoxysilane. Binding of the silane molecules on NaTiNT was confirmed by simultaneous differential scanning calorimetry- thermogravimetric analysis (DSC-TGA), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with electron dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS). Epoxy and nanocomposites of epoxy with 1%, 2% and 3% of functionalized NaTiNT were prepared. The thermal and mechanical properties were studied by DSC, DSC-TGA and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The results showed that with the increasing wt. % of functionalized NaTiNT in epoxy, the temperature at the maximum rate of the primary step of degradation and glass transition temperature increases (for ~12 and for ~8 °C). Results for nanocomposites prepared with short or long NaTiNT did not differ significantly. The addition of long NaTiNT increased the storage modulus up to 10.4%, while in the case of short NaTiNT up to 8.3%.

Epoxy ; Nanocomposite ; Titanate ; Nanotube ; Functionalization ; Silane

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