New high-performance epoxy nanocomposites co-reinforced by two- and zero-dimensional nanoscale particles

New epoxy nanocomposites co-reinforced by two-dimensional montmorillonite and zero-dimensional nanoSiO2 were prepared. Mechanical tests and thermal analyses showed that the nanocomposites obtained considerable improvements over neat epoxy in tensile modulus, tensile strength, flexural modulus, flexural strength, notch impact strength, glass transition temperature, and thermal decomposition temperature.