The influence of alkylammonium modified clays on the fungal resistance and biodeterioration of epoxy-clay nanocomposites

• The study of the fungal resistance and fungistatic properties of epoxy-organo-montmorillonite nanocomposites.
• The dependence of the fungal resistance and fungistatic properties on the nature of alkylammonium-modified clay.
• High fungal resistance in relation to the species of most aggressive microorganisms-biodestructors for polymers.

In this work, the fungal resistance and fungistatic properties of epoxy-organo-montmorillonite nanocomposites have been studied in dependence on the type of alkylammonium-modified clay. The purpose of these investigations was the prediction of storage and operation timing under various conditions. The obtained polymer materials have demonstrated high fungal resistance in relation to the species of most aggressive microorganisms-biodestructors for polymers, as Aspergillus niger (Tiegh), Penicillium chrysogenum (Thom), and Trichoderma viridescens (A.S. Horne & H.S. Will.). However, no fungistatic effect of the clayes was found.The analysis of the bіodeterioraion degree of studied nanocomposites showed that the mold fungi species mentioned above result in the incidental deterioration of strength characteristics, and, in some cases, an improvement of physico–mechanical properties, which evidences high fungal resistance of the nanocomposites.

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