Ultrasonic-assisted synthesis of nano-BaSO4 and its effect on thermal and cross-linking density of epoxy nanocomposites

Thermal and morphological behavior of epoxy nanocomposite system was investigated under the influence of barium sulfate nanoparticles. Initially, epoxy resin and nano-BaSO4 were synthesized under controlled ultrasound cavitation technique. At the time of epoxy resin synthesis, nano-BaSO4 (2-10mass% loading) was added under controlled ultrasound. The intense collapse effect was arising due to cavitation, which enhances the polymerization process with uniform mixing of nano-BaSO4. The effect of nano-BaSO4 on thermal and functional group linkage was studied using differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, respectively. Addition of nBaSO(4) accelerates the rate of epoxy resin curing during composite formation with uniform dispersion of nano-BaSO4 under controlled ultrasonic waves (50kHz), which shows remarkable change in cross-linking density. The thermal stability of epoxy resin nanocomposite was found to be improved as compared to neat epoxy resin. The increasing amount of loading of nano-BaSO4 shows enhancement in thermal properties of epoxy nanocomposite. It was demonstrated that ultrasonic synthesis is a unique and ultimate way for preparation of epoxy resin with nanoaddition. Due to controlled ultrasonic waves, formation of long-term stable polymerization occurs, which consists of polymer/inorganic nanoparticles composite.