CONTRIBITION OF MICRO-SILICA AND NANO-MONTMORILLONITE REINFORCEMENTS ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF UV-CURABLE THERMOSET RESIN

UV-curable thermoset resins had been utilized in organic coating industry because of their benefits over conventional adhesives like fast curing, less energy consumption and equipment. In this article, the effects micro nano-scaled reinforcements on mechanical properties a resin were investigated. The are chosen to be Montmorillonite (MMT) micro-scaled Silica (SiO2). reason for choice is that aforementioned particles non-toxic, low-cost case MMT; abundant nature. According our knowledge, there no study synergistic those two additives resins. 
 instrumented microindentation test results reveal maximum improvement hardness (288%) was achieved by single addition MMT thanks well-distributed silicate layers. Conversely, SiO2 diminished both strength (-51%) modulus (-68%) drastically which attributed possible poor dispersion weak surface attraction. On other hand, when together, property improvements namely; observed between either additive. It suggested contribution does not disturb intercalated/exfoliated-MMT structure similarly simultaneous reinforcement, quality affected. concluded one benefit these SiO2-MMT combinations reinforcement could related plasticity since they result reduction -22%-27% compared (-43%) with further higher (+66%) than bare (-51%).