Epoxy composites with nanofillers hardened by PET degradation production
Ryszard Pilawka Politechnika Szczecińska, Instytut Polimerów, ul. Pułaskiego 10, 70-322 Szczecin
Quarterly No. 2, 2005 pages 29-32
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abstract The epoxy compositions and composites hardened with the product of chemical degradation of poly(ethylene terephthalate) with triethanolamine have been investigated. Epoxy resin used was Epidian 6 (product of Chemical Works Organika – Sarzyna in Nowa Sarzyna) and as fillers were applied modified silica (product of Quarzwerke Frechen, Germany) and nanofiller: Organobentonite (product of ZG-M „Zebiec” S.A., Starachowice). The fillers were introduced to the compositions in amounts 5 or 65 g (silica) and 5 or 10 g (nanofiller) per 100 g of the epoxy resin. The hardener was applied in two weight ratios: 28.8 g (E6/PET/TEA 4) and 14.4 g (E6/PET/TEA 8) per 100 g of the resin. Crosslinking process and mechanical properties of the composites have been investigated at room temperature. Figures 1a and 1b present rheometric curves measured during crosslinking process of the epoxy compositions without and with different content the fillers. Addition of 5 wt.% of the fillers does not influence crosslinking process significantly, but 65 wt.% of Silbond 800 EST increases viscosity substantially. However, introduction of the nanofiller (Organobentonite) causes extension of the gelation time in comparison with the same parameter for other investigated systems. Figure 2 shows the impact strength of the unfilled and filled epoxy composites. The filled epoxy composites exhibit considerably lower impact strength than unfilled systems. Tables 1 and 2 present tensile and bending strengths of epoxy composites E6/PET/TEA without and with different contents of the fillers. Introduction of the Organobentonite (in applied experimental conditions of mixing) to the epoxy composition does not improve mechanical properties because of an insufficient dispersion of the nanofiller particles. Key words: epoxy resin, silica, bentonite, PET based hardener