Properties of epoxy systems with clay nanoparticles

Low molecular epoxy resin was mixed with different concentrations of montmorillonite clay with alkylamine-modified surface. The presence of the clay nanoparticles influences the gel time of the amine cured resin as well as the mechanical properties. Toughness and modulus, both in the glass and the rubberlike region, increase with clay concentration. An increasing amount of lower mobility phase with increased clay concentration was observed.