Effect of various combinations of zirconia and organoclay nanoparticles on mechanical and thermal properties of an epoxy nanocomposite coating

An epoxy based nanocomposite coating containing various combinations of treated-zirconia and clay nanoparticles were prepared. Morphology and dispersion of nanoparticles within the nanocomposites were evaluated using optical microscopy. XRD and TEM analyses. Mechanical, thermal properties and corrosion resistance of nanocomposites were studied using; tensile strength measurements. DMTA and DSC analyses and salt spray test. The results showed that simultaneous use of spherical and plate-shape nanoparticles, have a positive effect on the clay exfoliation behavior in resulting nanocomposites. Mechanical properties of nanocomposites containing nano-zirconia slightly increased compared with neat-epoxy coating. Mechanical properties of nanocomposites containing various wt.% of clay or ZrO2/clay nanoparticles slightly decreased; formation of physical barrier clay stacks, which leads to disturbing curing procedure and decreasing polymer cross-linking density, and development of nano-sized voids in the trapped regions by clay stacks. Corrosion performance of nanocomposites increased with addition of nanoparticles, due to improving barrier properties of the coating. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.