Mechanical properties of intercalated cyanate ester–layered silicate nanocomposites

Cyanate ester resins are among the most important engineering thermosetting polymers and have received attention because of their outstanding physical properties such as low water absorptivity and low outgassing. However, like most thermosets their main drawback is brittleness. Nanocomposites of cyanate esters were prepared by dispersing organically modified layered silicates (OLS) into the resin. Inclusion of only 2.5% by weight of OLS led to a marked improvement in physical and thermal properties (Coefficient of thermal expansion, Tg and effective thermal stability). Most impressively, a 30% increase in both the modulus and toughness was obtained.