NANOCOMPOSITES WITH THERMOSETTING MATRIX: STRUCTURE FORMATION AT THE INTERPHASE BOUNDARY

Composites with thermosetting matrix are often characterized by elevated values of operational properties ? flexural and compressive strength, resistance to aggressive environments, etc. At the same time the cost of most thermosets (particularly ? epoxy resins) is quite high. Because of this the area of application of polymer composites in construction is limited. One of such application is the creation of multifunctional coatings. The high cost of resin dictates the need to improve the operational properties to ensure economic efficiency. So far, the known way to improve the operational properties is to produce nanoscale interfacial layer between fine filler and matrix in block. This way proved to be effective, but mechanism of the improvement is still uncertain. There are at least two different theories ? so-called ?adhesion theory? and ?theory of deformable layer?. The investigation is complicated by the variety of oligomers, hardeners (crosslinking agents) and precursors of nanomodifiers. It is becoming more common lately to use adducts of aliphatic amines and epoxy oligomers as hardeners. As precursors of nanomodifiers the organosilicon compounds with siloxane bond in the main chain can be successfully used. In this paper we present results of investigation of a model system comprised of oligomer, crosslinking agent and precursor. The analysis of structure is carried out by means of Raman spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. It is shown that at gelation point modifier has no significant effect on the chemical composition of the curing products; nevertheless, the admixture of modifier reduces the regularity of the emerging three-dimensional spatial net of thermoset. After completion of curing process the irregular spatial grid is still present. This indicates that in composites admixture of organosilicon precursors may lead to the formation of transition layer with reduced modulus of elasticity. Such layer, in turn, causes stress relaxation and enhancement of the operational properties.