(163aj) Curing of Montmorillonite Modified Epoxy-Polysulfone Blends

The effect of the addition of two different organically treated montmorillonite (MMT) on the cure of an epoxy-polysulfone (PSF) blend is studied. The epoxy system was based on diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A and diaminodiphenylsulfone (the ratio of epoxy group to hydrogen-amine was kept equal to one). The concentrations of thermoplastic used were 5, 10 and 15 phr PSF. The layer silicates used in this study were octadecyl ammonium modified MMT (Nanomer I30.E, NI30.E) and dimethyl di(hydrogenated tallow) ammonium modified MMT (Cloisite 15 A, C15A). The amount of MMT added to the blends varied from 0 to 2.5 phr. The curing reaction was followed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and temperature modulated scanning calorimetry (TMDSC). The presence of NI30.E accelerates the polymerization reaction and decreases the glass transition temperature of the epoxy thermoset. On the other hand, there is a negligible effect on the curing reaction for C15A modified systems.