The primary objective of this study is to improve the thermal stability of
clay and clay filled composite. An epoxy-clay composite has been prepared by
dispersing 1-hexadecyl-3-(6-hydroxyhexyl)-2-methylimidazolium modified clay
in an epoxy resin and cured with metaphenylene diamine
(m-PDA) at 110.0 °C for 7 h and post cured at 140°C for 4
h. The thermal stability of the modified clay and clay filled epoxy
composite was characterized via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The onset
decomposition temperature of the imidazolium functionalized clay was 360°C.
Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) of the composite showed mixed
morphology with predominant fraction of intercalated clay platelets in the
epoxy matrix. The onset decomposition temperature of the modified clay
filled epoxy composite was found to be higher than that of pristine
epoxy.