Studying the Effect of Montmorillonite Nanoclay on Mechanical Properties and the Amount of Nanoclay on Epoxy Siloxane Hybrid Coatings

Organic modified polysiloxanes are generally recognized as the newest generic class of high performance protective coating and now widely used in new construction, heavy duty OEM, marine and industrial maintenance painting. A series of polymer–clay nanocomposite (PCN) materials that consist of siloxane-modified epoxy resin and inorganic nanolayers of montmorillonite (MMT) clay has been prepared through a thermal ring opening polymerization using 1,3-bis(3-aminopropyl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane as a curing agent. Dispersion of nanoclay in these coatings was prepared by ultrasonication method. The mechanical properties of the nanocomposite coatings such as abrasion, hardness, adhesion and weathering resistance were increased by addition of nanoclay montmorillonite. Stability and morphology of the nanocomposite coatings was evaluated by TEM, XRD and optical microscope .The results showed a stable dispersion of clay layers in the matrix and higher dry and wet adhesion in comparison with pure epoxy –siloxane coating. Prog. Color Colorants Coat. 7(2014), 11-18. © Institute for Color Science and Technology.