To improve properties of epoxy composites, surfaces of the illite and carbon nanotube (CNT) were treated by fluorine gas. The fluorinated illite and CNT were then characterized by X-ray photoelectron microscopy (XPS) and the mechanical and thermal properties of their composites were evaluated. The tensile and impact strengths and thermal stability of the composites increased upto about 59%, 18% and 124%, respectively compared to those of the neat epoxy. Improvements of mechanical and thermal properties in the composites were attributed that the fluorination of illite and carbon nanotube helps to enhance the dispersion in epoxy resin and interfacial interaction between them.
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