Experimental and numerical investigations on flexural and thermal properties of nanoclay-epoxy nanocomposites

▶ Effects of montmorillonite nanoclay on mechanical and thermal properties were investigated. ▶ A non-linear damage model to describe the stress-strain relationship was developed. ▶ Results showed optimum enhancement in 2 wt.% system in both thermal and mechanical properties. ▶ XRD and TEM results indicated mixed intercalation and exfoliation of nanoclay in 2 wt.% system. ▶ Good correlation was found between experimental and modeling results.