Preparation and characterization of UV-cured epoxy nanocomposites based on o-montmorillonite modified with maleinized liquid polybutadienes

Polymeric nanocomposites based on an epoxy cycloaliphatic resin and o-montmorillonite (Cloisite 30B®) modified by reaction with maleinized liquid polybutadienes were prepared through photopolymerization. The conditions for the o-montmorillonite modification were settled. After the reaction, a strong increase of the basal spacing of the nanoclays was evidenced through XRD analysis. The modified clays were dispersed in the epoxy resin (5 wt.%) and subjected to the UV-curing process. The kinetics of the photopolymerization process was evaluated by means of Real-Time FT-IR spectroscopy. The obtained nanocomposites were studied by means of XRD and TEM analyses; the formation of either intercalated or quasi-exfoliated structure was assessed. The thermal and mechanical properties of the cured films were evaluated and correlated to the morphology of the obtained nanocomposites.