• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.414-420
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• 2001

In this study, the effect of type of intercalant on properties of epoxy nanocomposites was investigated. Cetyltrimethylammoniumbromide (CTMA) as an alkylammonium salt and cetyltributylphosphoniumbromgide (CTBP) as an alkylphosphonium salt were used to modify sodium montmorillonite. In the case of using the CTMA as an intercalant, the long spacing of the silicate layer was about $18.8 {\AA}$. When CTBP was used, the long spacing of the silicate layer ( $23.8{\AA}$) was higher than that of CTMA. From these results, the characteristic length of the modified silicate was found to be significantly affected by the type of intercalant. We also noted that the thermal stability of modified MMT were affected by the type of intercalant, but in the epoxy nanocomposites prepared from the modified MMT, the thermal stability remains almost the same regardless of the type of intercalant. Tensile strength and elongation of epoxy nanocomposites prepared from MMT modified with CTBT were found to be higher than those of the epoxy nanocomposite prepare with WT modified with CTMA.