Thermal degradation kinetics of epoxy/organically modified montmorillonite nanocomposites

Nanocomposites based on a commercial epoxy resin and organically modified montmorillonites (OMMTs), containing 5 and 10 phr OMMT, were prepared and characterized. Poly(oxypropylene) diamine Jeffamine D400) and octadecylamine were used as organic modifiers. Another poly(oxypropylene) diamine (Jeffamine D230) was used as a curing agent. The thermal degradation kinetics of the neat resin system and nanocomposites were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. The dispersion of silicate layers within the crosslinked epoxy matrix was verified by transmission electron microscopy. The activation energy of degradation for the investigated systems was determined by the isoconversional Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose method. The thermal behavior of the neat resin systems and nanocomposites was modeled with an empirical kinetic model. The influence of organic modifiers and the OMMT loading on the thermal stability of the nanocomposites was discussed. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.