Effect of clay silylation on curing and mechanical and thermal properties of unsaturated polyester/montmorillonite nanocomposites

This workfocusesonthechemicalmodification ofmontmorillonite(MMT)(Cloisites Na) withcompa- tible silanes,vinyltriethoxysilane(CVTES)and γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane(CMPS)inorderto preventagglomerationandtoimprovemontmorilloniteinteractionwithanunsaturatedpolyesterresin matrix seekingtoachieveamultifunctionalcomposite.Claysweredispersedintheresinbymechanical stirring andsonicationandthenanocompositeswerepreparedbyresintransferintoamold.Theme- chanical, morphological,thermaland flammability propertiesoftheobtainedcompositeswerecom- pared withthosepreparedusingcommercialCloisites 30B (C30B)andCloisites 15A(C15A)clays.Ad- vantagesofusingsilane-modified clays(CVTESandCMPS)ascomparedwithorganic-modified clays (C30B andC15A)canbesummarizedassimilar flexuralstrengthandlinearburningratebuthigher storagemodulusandimprovedadhesiontothepolyesterresinwithconsequenthigherthermalde- flection temperatureandreinforcementeffectivenessathighertemperatures.However,organicmodified claysshowedbetterdispersion(tendencytoexfoliate)andconsequentlydelayedthermalvolatilization due totheclaybarriereffect