On the effect of solvent method processing on epoxy resin systems: A molecular dynamics study

摘要

The most important prerequisite for nanocomposite preparation and characterization is to achieve a satisfactory nanoscale dispersion and several mixing methods have been suggested. The solvent method is a well-known procedure, especially for intercalating layered fillers (layered silicates, graphene, boron nitride, etc.) in polymer or pre-polymer solutions. In the present work, the usage of acetone as a solvent for epoxy resin systems was investigated as it is believed to alter the molecular structure of the system even after its complete removal. The characterization was conducted in terms of electrical and thermal response, with a comparison between a reference and an acetone mixed sample. While DSC and conductivity measurements show no apparent difference between the two systems, the temperature dependent dielectric spectra revealed alterations on the secondary relaxations, which are attributed to the molecular structure of each system.