Reinforcing ability and co-catalytic effects of organo-montmorillonite clay on the epoxidized soybean oil bio-thermoset

• Octadecyl trimethyl ammonium functionalized montmorillonite can act as a good reinforcing agent for epoxidized soybean oil (ESO).
• Organic intercalant of octadecyl trimethyl ammonium functionalized montmorillonite (OMMT) can facilitate the curing reaction of ESO through co-catalytic mechanism.
• ESO/OMMT thermoset with higher stiffness, strength and thermal stability can be prepared.

Epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) containing octadecyl trimethyl ammonium functionalized montmorillonite (OMMT, 1–5 wt.%) were thermally cured using methylhexahydropthalic anhydride in the presence of 2-ethyl-4-methylimidazole catalyst. The mechanical properties of ESO nanocomposites were studied through the tensile and fracture toughness tests. The thermal properties were characterized by means of dynamic mechanical analyzer, thermogravimetric analyzer and differential scanning calorimeter. The addition of OMMT into ESO significantly improved the modulus, tensile strength, glass transition temperature, crosslink density, gel content and thermal stability of ESO/OMMT bio-thermoset. These are mainly attributed to the well-exfoliated OMMT and the co-catalytic effect of octadecyl trimethyl ammonium.

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