Moisture absorption and spectroscopic studies of epoxy clay nanocomposite

Abstract Epoxy resins are prone to serious moisture absorption inspite of their inherent advantages, which can be mitigated by the incorporation montmorillonite nanoclay that provide tortuous path flow moisture. Moisture studies epoxy clay nanocomposites is carried out, analyse effect content, immersion media and temperature. Nanocomposites prepared in 0.5, 1 1.5 wt% using magnetic stirring ultrasonication neat specimen were immersed distilled water artificial seawater maintained at 28 38 °C till saturation. Fick’s Langmuir’s models applied calculate kinetic parameters from graphs. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive (SEM–EDX) characterizations performed. Diffusivity least for nanocomposite containing 0.5 both temperatures medium. However, it when medium water. As temperature increases, diffusivity also increases. Saturation uptake increased increase because residual hydrophilic nature nanoclay. AFM XRD analysis revealed better dispersion exfoliated structure respectively loading. FTIR was identify chemical bonds helped proposing reaction mechanism synthesis. Spectra comparison dry wet specimens complimented data showing lower transmittance specimens. With Increase decreased corresponding saturation SEM–EDX distinguished between cations entered still present