Impact Strength and Morphology of Epoxy/Clay Nanocomposites Containing Different Clay Loadings

Nanocomposites epoxy/clay 3, 5, 7% were prepared by direct mixing method. Effect of nanoclay on morphology and impact of nanocomposites were studied. To investigate impact strength of samples Impact test, and for investigation of morphology X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used. In the XRD is observed with presence of nanoparticles, the peak has been displaced 2θ to smaller values that indicated an increase in gap between the plates of nanoclay in nanocomposite compared to pure clay. In SEM test, the increase in rough areas in fracture surface of impact test sample shows that increase in rough areas is indicative of better interaction and consequently, failure energy is more. Impact strength of nanocomposites increased to 5% with increasing clay and then decreased. The increase in clay aspect ratio and also the uniform distribution of clay in these kinds of nanocomposites are reasons of increase in impact strength