BIO-BASED THERMOSET POLYMER NANOCOMPOSITES

Bio-based thermoset nanocomposites reinforced with nanoclay particles have been studied. Epoxidized soyabean oil (ESO), a bio-based material, was used as a neat epoxy resin for this study. The ESO was cured with two different types of hardener, namely hexahydrophthalic anhydride and boron trifluoride monoethylamine. Montmorillonite clay, Cloisite Na + , and organoclays treated with different intercalants, including Nanomer I30E (treated with a long-chain primary amine intercalant), Cloisite 20A, and Cloisite C30B (treated with a quaternary ammonium intercalant), were used in this study. The nanocomposites' rheology, curing characteristics, and morphologies were determined by various techniques, including differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). The results indicate that the level of intercalation of the nanoclays is quite distinct. The presence of nanoclay results in a significant increase in hardness of the nanocomposites cured with hexahydrophthalic anhydride, but not of those cured with boron trifluoride monoethylamine. Nanoclay also does not have a strong effect on the Tg of ESO.