Organomontmorillonite-modified soybean oil-based polyurethane/epoxy resin interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs)

In this work, in order to investigate the reinforcement effects of organomontmorillonite (OMMT) in soybean oil-based polyurethane (PU)/epoxy (EP) interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs), a series of OMMT-modified PU/EP IPNs were prepared. The impacts of OMMT on the structure, morphology, glass transition, damping properties, thermal stability, and mechanical properties of the PU/EP IPNs were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electronic microscope, dynamic mechanical analysis, thermogravimetry analysis, and tensile test. Results reveal that the addition of OMMT increases the glass transition temperature of the PU/EP IPNs. However, the damping properties of the PU/EP IPNs are lowered with the incorporation of OMMT. The addition of OMMT heightens the thermal stability of the PU/EP IPNs. Tensile tests show that the addition of OMMT significantly increases the tensile strength and tensile modulus of the PU/EP IPNs. With 4 and 6 % loading of OMMT, the tensile strength and tensile modulus increase 64 and 391 %, respectively.