Effect of pristine halloysite nanotubes on dynamic mechanical and thermal behavior of reinforced epoxy nanocomposites

The present study focused on the dynamic mechanical performance and thermal behavior of epoxy composites reinforced utilizing pristine halloysite nanotubes (HNTs). A comprehensive analysis was carried out on the viscoelastic behavior and structure-property relationship of neat and various HNTs-reinforced epoxy nanocomposites with varying weight percentage loading of pristine HNTs. FTIR, XRD, SEM, DSC, and TGA analyses were performed to characterize the composite samples. Storage modulus (E '), loss modulus (E ''), frequency sweep, and damping factor (Tan delta) were studied as a function of temperature (30-120 degrees C) by DMA. Furthermore, temperature-dependent dynamic parameters were investigated at oscillation frequencies of 1, 25, and 50 Hz and correlated with DSC results. SEM analysis and Cole-Cole plot confirmed the homogeneity of HNTs in an epoxy matrix. Overall, HNTs imparted an improved viscoelastic behavior to the epoxy matrix at their optimized weight percentage loading of 2% featured to have a 48% rise in storage modulus (E ') and 135% rise in loss modulus (E '') at 40 degrees C. HNTs were found to have plasticizing effect for epoxy nanocomposites revealed from a slight decrease in their T-g. Thus, naturally occurring environmentally benign HNTs were found a promising reinforcing agent for tailoring viscoelastic behavior of epoxy matrix with low adverse physical effects as an efficient alternative to expensive carbon nanotubes (CNTs). [GRAPHICS] .