A novel analysis of the dielectric properties of hybrid epoxy composites

In this work, three systems of the composite were prepared using cured epoxy (CE), unsaturated polyester (UP), and organically changed montmorillonite (OMMT) of CE-UP, CE-OMMT, and CE-UP-OMMT which have been developed and the samples were subjected to Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). EIS shows CE-OMMT composite of sample E3M has maximized the room temperature conductivity of the composite to 3.7976 x 10(-5) S/cm. The conductivity was enhanced to 7.5891 x 10(-5) S/cm on the addition of 5 wt% UP in CE-OMMT. This conductivity was further enhanced to 1.1023 x 10(-4) S/cm on the addition of 15 wt% of UP in CE-OMMT composite. The conductivity enhancement was found due to the long-range movement of charge carriers by folding/unfolding up of polymer chains accumulated in the composite. X-ray diffraction spectroscopy affirms the amorphous nature and FTIR proves the interaction between CE, UP, and OMMT composites. XRD and FTIR confirm the folding/unfolding up of polymer chains. Dielectric and dielectric loss tangent studies confirm the results obtained by conductivity. The SEM reveals aggregate microstructure for CE-UP-OMMT composite and provides the relevant reason for reduction in conductivity. All the outcomes are verifying that the conductivity enhancement in CE-UP-OMMT composite is due to the interaction and the newly formed bonds. Graphical abstract