Mechanical properties of polycondensate epoxy nanocomposites filled with Ag nanoparticles synthesized in situ

Abstract Epoxy nanocomposite films of 80–100 µm in thickness were produced from epoxy resin and 4,4′-diamino-diphenylmethane with Ag nanoparticles (up to 50 nm in size) synthesized in situ. Elastic modulus, tensile strength and percent elongation of the produced nanocomposite films with concentration of Ag nanoparticles up to 0.4 wt% were tested. Decrease in percent elongation by 40% alongside with increase in elastic modulus by 20% and slight decrease in tensile strength were shown, which is seemingly due to antiplastification of nanocomposites during in situ synthesis of Ag nanoparticles.