Transparent anhydride-cured epoxy nanocomposites reinforced with polyaniline stabilized nanosilica

Transparent anhydride-bisphenol-A epoxy systems filled with pristine nanosilica were prepared and compared with the counterparts with the nanosilica coated with surface initiated polymerization (SIP) prepared phosphoric acid (H3PO4) doped polyaniline (PANI). The rheological investigation on the bisphenol-A epoxy nanosuspensions demonstrated that the surface coating increased the interaction between the nanosilica and the resin matrix. The tensile strength of anhydride-epoxy (83.79 MPa) was increased to 87.00 and 88.78 MPa for the epoxy with the as-received and functionalized nanosilica, respectively. The real permittivity of the nanocomposites was increased after the introduction of PANI functionalized nanosilica. The H3PO4 doped PANI decreased the heat release rate of epoxy from 563.0 to 508. 3 W g(-1), confirming the fire retardancy behavior of the PANI coating. The obtained cured anhydride-epoxy nanocomposites filled with nanosilica are highly transparent in visible light, and have potential applications in the optical field.