Synthesis and properties of epoxy/layered zirconium phosphonate (Zr-P) nanocomposites

A new type of zirconium phosphate/phosphonate derivative (Zr-P), with the functional group ∼CC, has been prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), solid state NMR, IR, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). This Zr-P is hybridized with an epoxy polymer to synthesize epoxy/zirconium phosphate (Zr-P) nanocomposite. XRD shows that the layered materials are well dispersed into the polymer matrix. TGA and DSC indicate the thermal properties of the nanocomposites. The morphology of nanocomposite was confirmed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The gas barrier property was measured by GPA, the combustion behavior was evaluated using the limiting oxygen index (LOI) test, and the transparency was measured by a UV–visible spectrophotometer. The material has a reasonably good optical property even with 10 wt% loading of layered material to the epoxy polymer matrix.