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

Table 2

Property of epoxy nanocomposites containing various concentrations of I.30E clay.

Filler matrix loading (wt%)^a	Tensile modulus (GPa)	Tensile strength (MPa)	Elongation (%)	Fracture toughness (MPa·m^0.5)	Strain energy (J/m^2)	Glass transition temp. (°C)
0 (neat epoxy)	2.82 ± 0.08	82.2 ± 1.56	8.53 ± 0.16	0.78 ± 0.05	235 ± 28	117
1 wt% I.30E (U)	3.25 ± 0.04	84.7 ± 1.56	6.12 ± 0.5	0.79 ± 0.03	225 ± 11	115
2 wt% I.30E (U)	3.23 ± 0.04	80.6 ± 2.78	5.51 ± 0.97	0.81 ± 0.05	245 ± 12	114
3 wt% I.30E (U)	3.36 ± 0.03	76.7 ± 3.51	4.08 ± 0.56	0.77 ± 0.01	230 ± 9	112
1 wt% I.30E (M)	2.84 ± 0.03	72.8 ± 3.5	4.8 ± 0.75	0.78 ± 0.04	240 ± 26	113
2 wt% I.30E (M)	2.92 ± 0.02	69.8 ± 0.42	3.96 ± 0.07	0.83 ± 0.04	265 ± 30	113
3 wt% I.30E (M)	2.97 ± 0.01	69.1 ± 1.19	3.78 ± 0.17	0.93 ± 0.06	320 ± 32	114

aU: ultrasonic mixing; M: mechanical mixing.