Parametric Study on the Fabrication of Clay-containing Thermosetting Nanocomposites

Clay/epoxy nanocomposites were fabricated using shear mixing to determine the increase in mechanical properties over those of pure epoxy. The effectiveness of the fabrication process was improved and explained in detail to provide composites researchers with the ability to fabricate thermosetting nanocomposites efficiently. The effects of process variables on the resulting nanocomposite materials were determined through repeated fabrication and testing. The effects of void removal and shear mixing variables were determined through alteration of the fabrication process. When the effects of the process variables had been determined, a fabrication procedure based on the results was used to fabricate nanocomposites containing 2, 4, and 6% nanoparticles by weight. Tensile tests were performed to determine the extensional moduli and tensile strengths of nanocomposite samples. Experimental values were compared to the developed mathematical models as well as to the values of the neat resin.