Influence of the Size of Nanoparticles and Their Agglomerates on the Physicomechanical Properties of Epoxynanocomposites

Abstract

In this work, the relations between the parameters of the structure of epoxy nanodisperions and nanocomposites and a complex of physicomechanical properties of epoxynanocomposites upon the distribution of nanoparticles on nano- and microlevels are established. It is shown that the morphology of epoxy nanocomposites and the size of agglomerates in an epoxy oligomer are almost unchanged during hardening upon the transition of a binder from liquid to solid state (matrix) both on the nanolevel (to ~100 nm) and on the microlevel (to ~390 nm). It is found for the first time that the optimal physicochemical properties are achieved for nanodispersions and nanocomposites only upon the formation of agglomerates of nanoparticles 150–200 nm in size in the structure of epoxynanocomposites.