Nano-disassembling method—A new method for preparing completely exfoliated epoxy/clay nanocomposites

Completely exfoliated epoxy/organo-montmorillonite nanocomposites with high-performance were successfully prepared using Nano-disassembling method. Nano-SiO2 particles were added into the organo-montmorillonite and epoxy mixture system as a disassembler to interact with organo-montmorillonite (o-MMT). By means of the strong interaction between nanoscale particles, the MMT layers were completely disassembled into elemental nanoscale mono-platelets. These mono-platelets and the disassembler particles dispersed in the resultant nanocomposites taking an interlacing arrangement. Mechanical testing and thermal analysis results indicated that the nanocomposites prepared by Nano-disassembling method displayed dramatic improvements in mechanical and thermal properties compared with traditional epoxy/o-MMT nanocomposites. Tensile modulus and tensile strength increased by 63.0% and 53.0%, respectively. Flexural modulus enhanced by 6.0%, flexural strength by 13.2% and notch impact strength by 36.1%. Glass transition temperature and thermal decomposition temperature moved to high temperatures by 9.0 °C and 5.0 °C.