Functionalized inorganic/organic nanocomposites as new basic raw materials for adhesives and sealants - Part 2

A high content of nano-sized silica, alumina and titania was embedded in epoxy Novolac adhesives. By grafting a glycidyloxypropyl functionalized trialkoxysilane on different nanoparticles polymerization-active fillers were prepared. Si-29 NMR and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry revealed oligomeric siloxane structures present on the surface of coated nanoparticles. In heat-induced polymerization reactions these surface-modified nanoparticles form covalent crosslinks to the epoxy resin, thus efficiently modifying the viscoelastic properties. The reinforced nanocomposites revealed shifts of the glass transition temperatures of about 20 K pointing to the improved thermal stability. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.