Interfacial interaction between host matrix and nanofillers is a determinative parameter on the mechanical and thermal properties of nanocomposites. In this paper, we first investigated interaction between carbon nanotube (CNT) and montmorillonite clay (MMT) absorbing on epoxy surface in a theoretical study based on the density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Results showed the interaction energy of -1.93 and -0.11 eV for MMT/epoxy and CNT/epoxy, respectively. Therefore, the interaction between epoxy polymer and MMT is of the chemisorptions type, while epoxy physically interacts with CNT. In addition, thermal and mechanical analyses were conducted on nanocomposites. In DSC analysis the glass transition temperature which was 70°C in neat epoxy composite showed an improvement to about 90°C in MMT nanocomposites while it was about 70°C for CNT nanocomposites. Finally, mechanical properties were investigated and MMT nanocomposite showed a change in compressive strength which increased from 52.60 Mpa to 72.07 and 92.98 Mpa in CNT and MMT nanocomposites, respectively. Also tensile strength improved to the value of 1250.69 Mpa MMT nanocomposites while it was about 890 Mpa in both CNT nanocomposite and neat epoxy composite which corresponds to the calculation result prediction.
Urea‐formaldehyde microcapsules were made in the presence of montmorillonite (MMT) nanoparticles by in‐situ polymerization and characterized with different methods. To monitor the presence of MMT and Dicyclopentadiene in microcapsules. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra was taken from samples. Distribution of microcapsule‘s diameters was studied by optical microscopy (OM) micrographs. Size distribution analysis showed that the average diameter of the microcapsules decreased from 130 (in the neat microcapsules) to 85 μm in MMT modified microcapsules. Surface and shell wall of microcapsules have an important role in their capability. Therefore, surface roughness and shell barrier properties were investigated by AFM micrographs and Thermogravimetry analysis. Results of both the methods showed improved features in MMT modified microcapsules. The synthesized microcapsules were used in MMT/epoxy nanocomposite as the healing agent and a coated glass monitored under optical microscope before and after crack demonstrating a good healing observed after 2 hours.
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