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Preparation and Characterization of

Cyclohexyl Moiety Toughened POSS-
Reinforced Epoxy Nanocomposites
a a
A. Chandramohan & M. Alagar
a
Department of Chemical Engineering, Polymer Nanocomposites
Lab, Alagappa College of Technology, Anna University, Chennai, India
Version of record first published: 18 Jan 2013.

To cite this article: A. Chandramohan & M. Alagar (2013): Preparation and Characterization of
Cyclohexyl Moiety Toughened POSS-Reinforced Epoxy Nanocomposites, International Journal of
Polymer Analysis and Characterization, 18:1, 73-81

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 International Journal of Polymer Anal. Charact., 18: 73–81, 2013
Copyright # Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
ISSN: 1023-666X print/1563-5341 online
DOI: 10.1080/1023666X.2013.747253

Preparation and Characterization of Cyclohexyl Moiety

Toughened POSS-Reinforced Epoxy Nanocomposites

A. Chandramohan and M. Alagar

Department of Chemical Engineering, Polymer Nanocomposites Lab,
Alagappa College of Technology, Anna University, Chennai, India

Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)-reinforced epoxy nanocomposites were prepared by

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reacting commercially available diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA) and tetraglycidyl diamino
diphenyl methane (TGDDM) epoxy resins with 1,1-bis(3-methyl-4-glycidyloxyphenyl)cyclohexane
(Cy-Ep) separately and reinforced with POSS nanocluster. POSS (OAPS)-reinforced hybrid Cy-Ep-
epoxy resin castings were characterized for their mechanical and morphological properties. The data
obtained from mechanical studies indicated that the incorporation of nano OAPS into Cy-Ep
modified hybrid systems results in improved stability. Among the epoxy systems studied, the
TGDDM-based hybrid epoxy system exhibited higher values of tensile and flexural properties than
that of the DGEBA hybrid epoxy system, whereas the impact strength of the DGEBA system was
higher than that of the TGDDM system. The dispersion of POSS was confirmed by scanning
electron microscopy and visual observation studies.

Keywords: mechanical properties, morphology, nanocluster, reinforcement, visual observation

INTRODUCTION

Epoxy resins are a class of thermosetting polymers that have been widely used as
high-performance materials, adhesives, and matrices for electronic encapsulating applications
owing to their high modulus and strength, excellent chemical resistance, and simplicity in pro-
cessing. However, their brittle behavior restricts high-performance applications and necessitates
toughening with suitable impact modifiers. Although modification with elastomers improves
their impact behavior, it tends to decrease the physical properties such as hardness and rigidity,
resistance towards solvents, and glass transition temperature. Hence, in order to maintain the
balance of properties suitable for high-performance applications, invisible epoxy resins have
been modified using materials having rigid and soft skeletons and hybrid epoxy materials have
been obtained with improved characteristics according to the nature and percentage incorpor-
ation of modifiers.[1–5]

Submitted 21 July 2012; accepted 21 August 2012.

The authors acknowledge the financial support for this work by University Grants Commission (UGC) F.4-1=2006
(BSR)=5-8 2007 (BSR), New Delhi.
Correspondence: M. Alagar, Department of Chemical Engineering, Polymer Nanocomposites Lab, Alagappa College
of Technology, Anna University, Chennai – 600 025, India. E-mail: malagar@annauniv.edu
 74 A. CHANDRAMOHAN AND M. ALAGAR

Organic-inorganic hybrid-reinforced epoxy nanocomposites exhibit significant improvement

in thermal and mechanical properties like high temperature durability and other characteris-
tics.[6–8] Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) is one type of inorganic-organic hybrid
material. POSS derivatives can be easily incorporated into common polymer systems via chemi-
cal bonds or physical blending as enhancement nano-filler. The POSS molecule embodies
organic-inorganic hybrid architecture. The incorporation of POSS units into a polymer produces
organic-inorganic hybrid materials that can obviously enhance polymer properties such as glass
transition temperature, decomposition temperature, flame retardancy, mechanical properties,
hardness, wear resistance, decreased flammability, oxidative resistance, and dielectric
properties.[9–13]
In our continued effort in improving epoxy matrices, herein we report a one-step procedure of
toughing as well as nano-reinforcement of commercially available DGEBA and TGDDM by
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reacting with freshly prepared Cy-Ep and nano-filler (POSS). The effect of these nano-fillers
was then investigated for mechanical and morphological properties by means of tests of tensile
strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, and impact strength, and scanning
electron microscopy (SEM) and visual observation.

EXPERIMENTAL SECTION

Materials

The diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A, DGEBA (LY556; equivalent [E] weight 187), and
4,40 -diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM) were received from Ciba-Geigy Ltd. (India). Cyclohexa-
none, o-cresol, 2-(chloromethyl)oxirane, benzyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (BTMA), and
sodium hydroxide were obtained from SRL (India). Tetraglycidyl diamine diphenyl methane,
TGDDM (equivalent [E] weight 105.5), 10% Pd=C, benzyl trimethyl ammonium hydroxide
40% in methanol solution were received from Sigma Aldrich (USA); 98% formic acid, triethyla-
mine, tetrahydrofuran (THF), ethyl acetate, and hexane were purchased from SD Fine Chemicals
(India); and octaaminophenylsilsesquioxane (OAPS) and 1,1-bis(3-methyl-4-glycidyloxyphe-
nyl)cyclohexane (Cy-Ep) were prepared by the reported procedure.[14–16] The chemical structures
of the materials used are presented in Figure 1.

Preparation of Nanocomposites

The stoichiometric amount of DDM was added to molten DGEBA or TGDDM epoxy at 80
C
with continuous stirring until the formation of a homogeneous transparent product. After degas-
sing the product, it was poured into a preheated mold. The product samples were cured succes-
sively at 120
C for 3 h, post-cured at 180
C for 2 h, and finally removed from the mold and
characterized. The Cy-Ep-toughened DGEBA=TGDDM epoxy matrices were prepared by dis-
solving varying weight percentages (5, 10, and 15 wt.%) of Cy-Ep and a fixed amount of epoxy
resin (100 g) with continuous heating at 80
C for 15 min. The blend obtained was degassed
under vacuum for one-half hour and then cooled to 60
C. Next the stoichiometric amount of
DDM was added to the blend with continuous stirring until a homogeneous product was
obtained. The product was subjected to vacuum to remove the entrapped air and poured into
 POSS-REINFORCED EPOXY NANOCOMPOSITES 75
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FIGURE 1 Chemical structure of materials.

a preheated mold. The samples were cured successively at 120
C for 2 h, post-cured at 180
C for
3 h, and finally removed from the mold and characterized.
OAPS-incorporated DGEBA=TGDDM epoxy nanocomposites were prepared by a solution
blending process; 1, 3, and 5 wt.% OAPS with respect to weight of epoxy were dissolved in
the minimum possible amount of tetrahydrofurane (THF), and the solution was mixed
 76 A. CHANDRAMOHAN AND M. ALAGAR

completely with the desired amount of epoxy at 40
C. The temperature was slowly increased
and these mixtures were stirred at 80
C for 15 min until complete evaporation of the THF sol-
vent.[17] Then the stoichiometric amount of DDM was added to the molten mixture at 80
C with
continuous stirring until a homogeneous transparent product was formed. The resulting product
was subjected to degassing for 10 min followed by being poured into a preheated mold. It was
thermally cured at 120
C for 2 h, post-cured at 180
C for 3 h, and finally removed from the mold
and characterized. OAPS- incorporated Cy-Ep-toughened DGEBA and TGDDM epoxy nano-
composites were also prepared by the above procedure.

Instrumentation

The tensile (stress-strain) properties were determined using a Hounsfield-UTM as per ASTM D
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3039 at 2 mm min1crosshead speed using a specimen with a width of 25 mm, length of

200 mm, and thickness of 3 mm. The flexural strength was measured with an HTE-series-
H50 K-S Model (Hounsfield Test Equipment Ltd,, UK) as per ASTM D 790 using specimen
with dimensions of 3 mm depth, 10 mm width, and 90 mm length at 5 mm min1 crosshead
speed. The Izod unnotched impact strength of each sample was studied as per ASTM D
256-88. Five specimens were tested for each sample. The fractured surfaces of the specimens
were coated with gold and examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM; JEOL JSM 6360).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Mechanical Properties

Tensile Properties

The values of tensile strength and tensile modulus of neat DGEBA=TGDDM epoxy resin sys-
tems, Cy-Ep-toughened DGEBA=TGDDM epoxy resin, and POSS-reinforced hybrid nanocom-
posites are presented in Tables I and II. The introduction of Cy-Ep into DGEBA=TGDDM

TABLE I
Mechanical Properties of OAPS-Reinforced Cy-Ep-toughened DGEBA Nanocomposites

DGEBA= Tensile strength Tensile modulus Flexural strength Flexural Impact

Cy-Ep-OAPS wt.% (MPa) (MPa) (MPa) modulus (MPa) strength (J=m2)

100=00=00 66.9  6 2791.5  26 104.5  6 1865.0  42 101.7  5

100=05=00 58.5  2 2596.1  28 102.5  1 1747.6  39 111.6  5
100=10=00 53.5  5 2371.8  23 95.2  3 1618.3  28 120.7  5
100=15=00 49.1  2 2297.8  23 88.5  2 1485.1  31 132.6  5
100=01=00 75.1  3 3117.2  25 124.4  2 2061.6  25 118.9  4
100=03=00 79.4  5 3321.0  35 134.1  3 2281.0  32 126.4  2
100=05=00 82.9  5 3411.6  20 141.5  6 2384.0  35 137.4  2
100=10=01 77.8  3 3112.4  31 132.6  3 2162.9  27 137.1  3
100=10=03 80.5  1 3398.6  27 139.1  4 2311.7  30 146.7  4
100=10=05 85.1  5 3621.0  35 144.7  5 2456.3  25 153.3  3
 POSS-REINFORCED EPOXY NANOCOMPOSITES 77

TABLE II
Mechanical Properties of OAPS-Reinforced Cy-Ep-toughened TGDDM Nanocomposites

TGDDM=Cy- Tensile strength Tensile modulus Flexural Flexural Impact

Ep-OAPS wt.% (MPa) (MPa) strength (MPa) modulus (MPa) strength (J=m2)

100=00=00 68.3  6 2906.4  39 126.2  6 2165.0  42 98.6  1

100=05=00 68.1  4 2884.9  30 124.5  2 2047.6  39 105.5  5
100=10=00 63.5  9 2711.5  26 114.1  5 1898.3  28 109.2  3
100=15=00 60.1  2 2567.3  40 109.2  7 1635.1  31 117.3  5
100=01=00 76.3  6 3079.2  25 116.1  5 1961.6  25 111.3  3
100=03=00 82.5  3 3236.1  28 126.9  2 2181.0  32 119.7  4
100=05=00 87.3  5 3521.6  20 143.3  3 2384.0  35 129.2  3
100=10=01 81.1  3 3286.4  31 160.5  3 2692.9  27 127.8  3
100=10=03 84.7  5 3479.6  27 169.7  4 2791.7  30 135.7  4
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100=10=05 88.5  5 3768.0  35 177.3  5 3056.3  25 141.9  3

epoxy resins decreased the values of tensile strength compared to those of neat epoxy systems.
However, in both DGEBA and TGDDM systems, the incorporation of 1, 3, and 5% (by weight)
POSS increased the tensile strength and tensile modulus with increasing percentage of POSS
content. The introduction of 1, 3, and 5 (by wt.%) POSS into 10 wt.% Cy-Ep=DGEBA epoxy
resin increased the tensile strength by 16.3, 20.3, and 27.2%, respectively. Similarly, the intro-
duction of 1, 3, and 5 (by wt.%) POSS into 10 wt.% Cy-Ep-TGDDM epoxy resin also increased
the tensile strength by 18.9, 24.5, and 29.6%, respectively. The values of tensile strength of
all the OAPS-reinforced epoxy systems are better than that of corresponding neat epoxy systems
as the loading of POSS increased up to 5 wt.%. This may be explained by the nano reinforce-
ment effect of the strong covalent bond formation of POSS with epoxy resins.[18]
TGDDM-based epoxy systems displayed higher values in tensile strength due to higher
cross-linking density than that of DGEBA based epoxy systems. A similar effect was also
observed in the case of tensile modulus.

Flexural Properties

The values of flexural strength and flexural modulus of neat DGEBA=TGDDM epoxy resin
systems, Cy-Ep-toughened DGEBA=TGDDM epoxy resin, and POSS-reinforced hybrid nano-
composites are presented in Tables I and II. The introduction of Cy-Ep into DGEBA=TGDDM
epoxy resins decreased the values of flexural strength compared to those of neat epoxy systems
due to the increased chain entanglement and enhanced free volume imparted by Cy-Ep. The
incorporation of 1, 3, and 5% (by weight) POSS into both DGEBA and TGDDM systems
increases the flexural strength and modulus with increasing percentage of POSS content. The
improvement in flexural strength was observed on increasing the concentration of 1, 3, and 5
(by wt.%) POSS into 10 wt.% of Cy-Ep-toughened DGEBA=TGDDM resin systems; the values
obtained for the DGEBA system are 26.9, 33.1, and 38.5%, respectively and those obtained for
the TGDDM system are 27.2, 34.5, and 40.5%, respectively. The TGDDM-reinforced systems
showed higher values of flexural strength than DGEBA-reinforced epoxy systems. For example,
the incorporation of 5 wt.% of OAPS into the Cy-Ep-TGDDM epoxy system improved the
flexural strength up to 40.5%, whereas the same 5 wt.% of the OAPS-modified Cy-Ep-DGEBA
 78 A. CHANDRAMOHAN AND M. ALAGAR

epoxy system exhibited flexural strength of 38.5% due to the presence of higher rigidity. A simi-
lar trend was also observed in the case of flexural modulus.

Impact Strength

The values of impact strength of neat DGEBA=TGDDM epoxy resin systems, Cy-Ep-
toughened DGEBA=TGDDM epoxy resin, and their POSS-reinforced hybrid nanocomposites
are presented in Tables I and II. The incorporation of 5, 10, and 15% (by weight) Cy-Ep into
DGEBA resin enhanced the values of impact strength by 9.7, 18.7, and 30.4% respectively;
similarly, in the case of TGDDM resin systems the impact strength was enhanced by 6.9,
10.8, and 19.1% respectively. This may be explained by the resilient behavior and high-energy
absorption of the flexible molecules present in Cy-Ep and the formation of a chain-entangled
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network structure. The introduction of 1, 3, and 5% (by weight) POSS into 10% Cy-Ep-tough-
ened DGEBA epoxy resin increased the impact strength by 34.5, 44.2, and 50.7%, respectively,
and similarly the introduction of 1, 3, and 5% (by weight) of POSS to TGDDM resin systems
also increased the impact strength by 29.6, 37.6, and 43.9%, respectively. The POSS-reinforced
Cy-Ep-toughened DGEBA=TGDDM epoxy resin hybrid nanocomposites exhibited improved
impact strength due to the increase of POSS content and its core structure.[19] Data resulting
from impact studies indicate that the DGEBA-based epoxy systems showed higher impact
strength than TGDDM-based epoxy systems. For example, the impact strength is 120.7 J=m2
in the case of Cy-Ep (10 wt.%)-toughened DGEBA system whereas that of Cy-Ep
(10 wt.%)-toughened TGDDM system is 109.2 J=m2. This may be explained by the presence
of the complex network structure of TGDDM in comparison with that of DGEBA.

FIGURE 2 SEM morphology of OAPS-reinforced Cy-Ep-toughened DGEBA epoxy nanocomposites: (a) Cy-Ep-tough-
ened DGEBA, (b) 3 wt.% of OAPS in DGEBA, (c) 10 wt.% Cy-Ep=1 wt.% OAPS in DGEBA, and (d) 10 wt.%
Cy-Ep=3 wt.% OAPS in DGEBA.
 POSS-REINFORCED EPOXY NANOCOMPOSITES 79
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FIGURE 3 SEM morphology of OAPS-reinforced Cy-Ep-toughened TGDDM epoxy nanocomposites: (a) Cy-Ep-
toughened TGDDM, (b) 3 wt.% of OAPS in TGDDM, (c) 10 wt.% Cy-Ep=1 wt.% OAPS in TGDDM, and (d)
10 wt.% Cy-Ep=3 wt.% OAPS in TGDDM.

FIGURE 4 Visual observation of OAPS-reinforced Cy-Ep-toughened DGEBA epoxy nanocomposites: (a) neat Cy-Ep
(10 wt.%)-DGEBA, (b) DGEBA=OAPS (3 wt.%), and (c) Cy-Ep (10 wt.%)-DGEBA=OAPS (3 wt.%) (color figure avail-
able online).
 80 A. CHANDRAMOHAN AND M. ALAGAR
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FIGURE 5 Visual observation of OAPS-reinforced Cy-Ep-toughened TGDDM epoxy nanocomposites: (a) neat Cy-Ep
(10 wt.%) TGDDM, (b) TGDDM=OAPS (3 wt.%), and (c) Cy-Ep (10 wt.%)-TGDDM=OAPS (3 wt.%) (color figure
available online).

Morphological Properties

Figures 2 and 3 are SEM micrographs of the fractured surfaces of the hybrids. The morphologies
of neat DGEBA=TGDDM epoxy systems and Cy-Ep-toughened DGEBA=TGDDM and
POSS-containing hybrid systems were investigated by SEM. The Cy-Ep-toughened DGE-
BA=TGDDM systems show homogeneous morphology. The homogeneous and transparent
morphology of OAPS with epoxy resin indicated the miscibility of POSS with epoxy resin.
The miscibility could be ascribed to the formation of covalent bonds between OAPS and epoxy
resins. The amine functionality in the silsesquioxane cages played a significant role in the for-
mation of covalent bonds between OAPS and epoxy and thus produced a homogeneous mor-
phology.[20,21] The homogeneous morphology of epoxy systems was further evidenced by
visual observations. Figures 4 and 5 indicate that the reactive functional group of POSS cages
in the polymer hybrids could influence the transparency of the materials.[22]

CONCLUSION

We have prepared tough epoxy resin nanocomposites using octa-functionalized POSS derivative
(OAPS) as a nano cross-linker and Cy-Ep as toughening agent for DGEBA=TGDDM hybrid
nanocomposites. Data from mechanical studies indicated that the Cy-Ep-toughened
DGEBA=TGDDM epoxy resins enhanced the values of impact strength. The incorporation of
POSS in the epoxy nanocomposites improved the mechanical properties depending on the con-
centration of POSS. The homogeneous morphology of Cy-Ep-toughened DGEBA=TGDDM
resin systems confirmed the ring-opening polymerization and curing reaction.
 POSS-REINFORCED EPOXY NANOCOMPOSITES 81

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