Studies on mechanical, thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of functionalized nanoalumina reinforced sulphone ether linked tetraglycidyl epoxy nanocomposites

The objective of the present work is to synthesize 1,4'-bis (4-amine-phenoxy) sulphone benzene epoxy resin (TGBAPSB) via 1,4'-bis (4-amine-phenoxy) sulphone benzene (BAPSB) and epichlorohydrin in order to obtain tetra functional epoxy with improved properties. The molecular structure of TGBAPSB epoxy resin was confirmed from FTIR and NMR spectral data and molecular weight was determined by GPC and epoxy equivalent weight (EEW) by titration method. The amino functionalized nanoalumina (F-nAl) was synthesized via the sol-gel method using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and has been confirmed by FT-IR. TGBAPSB epoxy resin was further reinforced with varying weight percentages (1-5 wt%) of F-nAl and cured with diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM). The thermal and thermo-mechanical behaviour of TGBAPSB epoxy matrix and nanocomposites were analysed by TGA, DMA and DSC. The surface morphology of the epoxy nanocomposites was examined using XRD, TEM, SEM and AFM studies. Data obtained from mechanical, thermal and thermo-mechanical, dielectric and water absorption studies indicate a significant improvement in properties of the resultant epoxy nanocomposites, which appear to be ideal material for advanced high performance applications when compared to those of neat epoxy matrices.