Magnetic ionic liquid nanocatalyst to improve mechanical and thermal properties of epoxy nanocomposites

Abstract

New magnetic imidazolium ionic liquid (IIL) was synthesized to improve the curing, mechanical, and thermal characteristics of the epoxy/polyamine system. In this respect, 2-(4-minophenyl)-1.3-bis(triethoxysilyl)-1H-imidazol-3-ium acetate as IIL was synthesized and characterized by different spectroscopy tools. The IIL was used as capping to prepare Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) as new Fe3O4-IIL NPs. The thermal stability, morphology, crystal lattice structures, and magnetic properties were evaluated to confirm the formation of uniform, thermal, stable, and superparamagnetic Fe3O4-IIL NPs. The prepared Fe3O4-IIL NPs were mixed with an epoxy/polyamine system to improve the curing, thermal, and mechanical properties of epoxy through chemical reactions. The dynamic mechanical analyzer and differential scanning calorimeter were used to investigate the flexibility and storage modulus of the cured epoxy/polyamine system in the absence and presence of Fe3O4-IIL NPs. The atomic force microscope and scanning electron microscope were used to evaluate the dispersion and embedding of Fe3O4-IIL NPs into epoxy matrix. The thermal, mechanical, and surface morphologies data confirmed that the incorporation of Fe3O4-IIL NPs using 3 wt. % during the curing of an epoxy/polyamine system produces superior epoxy films without cracks, holes, and NPs agglomeration.