Transparent Epoxy/Silica Nanocomposites with Increased Glass Transition Temperatures

Epoxy/silica nanocomposites were obtained by curing 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3,4-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate in the presence of silica nanoparticles modified by (3-triethoxysilyl)propylsuccinic acid anhydride. Optimum conditions for the preparation of optically transparent polymer nanocomposites with increased glass transition temperatures are determined. The glass transition temperatures of the above nanocomposites are 30-40 °C higher than those of the neat epoxy resin synthesized under the same conditions (130 °C).