Preparation and Properties of Bio-Based Epoxy Montomorillonite Nanocomposites Derived from Polyglycerol Polyglycidyl Ether and ε-Polylysine

Glycerol polyglycidyl ether (GPE) and polyglycerol polyglycidyl ether (PGPE) were cured with epsilon-poly(L-lysine) (PL) using epoxy/amine ratios of 1 : 1 and 2 : 1 to create bio-based epoxy cross-linked resin and the epoxy/amine ratio was 1 : 1, the cured neat resin showed the greatest glass transition temperature (T-g), as measured by differential scanning calorimetry. Next, the mixture of PGPE, PL, and montomorillonite (MMT) at an epoxy/amine ratio of 1 : 1 in water was dried and cured finally at 110 degrees C to create PGPE-PL/MMT composites. The X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy measurements revealed that the composites with MMT content 7-15 wt % were exfoliated nanocomposites and the composite with MMT content 20 wt % was an intercalated nanocomposite. The T-g and storage modulus at 50-100 degrees C for the PGPE-PL/MMT composites measured by DMA increased with increasing MMT content until 15 wt % and decreased at 20 wt %. The tensile strength and modulus of the PGPE-PL/MMT composites (MMT content 15 wt % 42 and 5300 MPa) were much greater than those of the cured PGPE-PL resin (4 and 6 MPa). Aerobic biodegradability of the PGPE-PL in an aqueous medium was similar to 4% after 90 days, and the PGPE-PL/MMT nanocomposites with MMT content 7-15 wt % showed lower biodegradability. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 113: 479-484, 2009