Nanoclay modified phenolic resin for high temperature applications

LUCÍA ASARO; EXEQUIEL RODRIGUEZ; VERA ALVAREZ

Conferencia; 15 ICC International Clay Conference; 2013

When adding inorganic nano filler (filler with at least one dimension in the nanometer order) to a polymeric matrix some properties such us as the mechanical, barrier and thermal stability, or reduced as the flammability and water absorption can be optimized. It is important to emphasized that these properties can be considerably modified with the incorporation of low quantities of filler (usually lower than 10 wt.%) (Kaynak and Tasan, 2006). On the other hand, phenolic resins are thermoset polymers, obtained by the reaction between phenol and formaldehyde; one of the most important properties of these resins is their high flame resistance, which is due to the formation of a carbonaceous layer called ?char? that radiates heat and acts as an excellent insulating material. Nowadays phenolic resins are used in thermal protection systems, molding compounds, wood products, coatings, and composite materials (Choi, et. al., 2012). In this work the phenolic resin modified with different nanoclays materials were obtained and characterized. Phenolic resin and bentonite modified with tributyl hexadecyil phosphonium bromide in different proportions of CEC (between 0 and 3), both synthesized in our laboratory were used for the experiments. Characterization was carried out by means of the dispersion of the clay inside the matrix (X-Ray Diffraction, XRD and Transmission Electron Microscopy, TEM), thermal stability and degradation mechanisms (Thermogravimetric Analysis, TGA and DTGA) and mechanical properties. Also, dynamic mechanical properties were studies by Dynamic Mechanical Analysis, DMA. The glass temperature, Tg, rubber modulus and damping factor were determined. The properties were compared among the different studied clay-modified resins. The clay that optimizes the thermal properties, rheological and cure properties of phenolic resin will be used in a future work for developing high temperature and ablation resistant composite (including carbon fibers) materials. Rheological properties and cure characteristics are crucial processing parameters of a matrix-resin for the preparation of composite materials. This work was performed under the project FSNano004: ?Development of modified nanoclays and innovative products from national clays?.