Effect of Nanocomposite Structures on Fracture Behavior of Epoxy-Clay Nanocomposites Prepared by Different Dispersion Methods

Table 1

Clay, organic modifier, 𝑑-spacing, and corresponding nanocomposite morphology.

Clay	Organic modifier	d-spacing of the organoclay, 𝑑001^a	Morphology and d-spacing of the organoclay (1 wt%) in cured epoxy^a,b
I.30E	CH3(CH2)17NH3^+	2.23 nm	10~15 nm, exfoliated/intercalated (U); (measured by TEM); 2.68 nm, phase-separated (M)
I.28E	CH3(CH2)17N(CH3)3^+	2.39 nm	2.85 nm, intercalated (U)
PGW	None	1.24 nm	1.24 nm, phase-separated (U)

aInterlayer spacing was measured using the prominent diffraction peak from XRD traces.
bU: ultrasonic mixing; M: mechanical mixing.