An epoxy-silicate nanocomposite is prepared by dispersing an organically modified smectite-type clay in an epoxy resin together with diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA), and curing in the presence of either nadic methyl anhydride (NMA), and/or benzyldimethyl amine (BDMA), and/or boron trifluoride monoethylamine (BTFA) at 100-200 degree C. Molecular dispersion of the layered silicate within the crosslinked epoxy matrix is obtained, with smectite layer spacings of 100Å or more and good wetting of the silicate surface by the epoxy matrix. The curing reaction involves the functional groups of the alkylammonium ions located in the galleries of the organically modified clay, which participate in the crosslinking reaction and result in direct attachment of the polymer network to the molecularly dispersed silicate layers. The nanocomposite exhibits a broadened Tg at slightly higher temperature than the unmodified epoxy. The dynamic storage modulus of the nanocomposite was considerably higher in the glassy region and very much higher in the rubbery plateau region when compared to such modulus in the unmodified epoxy.
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