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Abstract
The nanocomposites of epoxy-modified Mesua ferrea L. seed-oil-based polyester resin were designed with 0-5 wt% loadings of organophillic montmorrilonite (OMMT). X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy studies revealed very good dispersion of OMMT with exfoliated structure in the matrix. The effects of OMMT on the curing, thermal, mechanical, and rheological behaviors of the nanocomposites were also investigated. Two times’ improvement in tensile strength, 2 kg increment in scratch hardness, and 68°C enhancement in thermal degradation temperature were obtained for the nanocomposites with 5 wt% OMMT loading compared to pristine polyester.
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful for the research project assistance given by DRDO, India, through Grant No. ERIP/ER/0403490/M/01/962, dated May 14, 2007. The authors also express their gratitude to the Department of Physics, Tezpur University and North-Eastern Hills University, Shillong, for help in XRD, SEM, and TEM analyses, respectively.