The influence of alkylammonium modified clays on the fungal resistance and biodeterioration of epoxy-clay nanocomposites

In this work, the fungal resistance and fungistatic properties of epoxy-organo-montmorillonite nano composites have been studied in dependence on the type of alkylammonium-modified clay. The purpose of these investigations was the prediction of storage and operation timing under various conditions. The obtained polymer materials have demonstrated high fungal resistance in relation to the species of most aggressive microorganisms-biodestructors for polymers, as Aspergillus niger (Tiegh), Penicillium chrysogenum (Thom), and Trichoderma viridescens (AS. Home & H.S. Will.). However, no fungistatic effect of the clayes was found. The analysis of the biodeterioraion degree of studied nanocomposites showed that the mold fungi species mentioned above result in the incidental deterioration of strength characteristics, and, in some cases, an improvement of physico mechanical properties, which evidences high fungal resistance of the nanocomposites. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.