Epoxy-Based Resins with Enhanced Thermal and Physical Properties: The Effects of Adding Pristine and Surface Modified Halloysite Nanotubes

摘要

Epoxy (E) and epoxy vinyl ester (VE) resins are industrially appealing due to their high mechanical properties and superior resistance to moisture and chemicals. [1] But, like many polymers, epoxy-based resins are highly flammable and require modification to decrease their flammability. [2] Typically, the flammability is reduced either by adding mineral fillers such as alumina trihydrate (ATH) or by adding halogenated compounds. The later strategy reduces the processing problems associated with adding large quantities of fillers. However, the main disadvantage of this solution is that a fire could create toxic and possibly corrosive smoke. [3] Examples are also present in the literature where the addition of carefully selected nanoparticles into polymers reduced some of the risks associated with fire. These nanoparticles include natural clays, like montmorillonite (MMT), polyoligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS), layered double hydroxides (LDHs) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). [4, 5]