摘要
The aim of the research was to examine the influence of organo-modified Indian bentonite （IB） nanoclay dispersed in vinyisster on the mechanical properties of nanoclaylvinylesterlglass nanocomposRes. Nanoclay was organically modified using cationic surfactant hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide （HDTMA-Br） by cation exchange method and dispersed in vinylester using ultrasonication and twin screw extrusion. XRD of nanoclaylvinylester revealed exfoliaUon at 4 wt.% nanoclay indicating uniform dispersion in the polymer. DSC results showed improvement in glass transition temperature by 22.3% in 4 wt.% nanoclaylvinylester/glass when compared with that of vinylester/glass. Nanoclay/vinylester/glass with 4 wt,% nanoclay showed 29.23%, 23.84% and 60.87% improvement in ultimate tensile strength （UTS）, fiexural strength （FS） and interlaminar shear strength （ILSS） respectively when compared with those of vinylester! glass. The mode of tensile failure examined by SEM showed no agglomeration of nanoclay in 4 wt.% nanoclayNinylester/glass specimens.
The aim of the research was to examine the influence of organo-modified Indian bentonite （IB） nanoclay dispersed in vinyisster on the mechanical properties of nanoclaylvinylesterlglass nanocomposRes. Nanoclay was organically modified using cationic surfactant hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide （HDTMA-Br） by cation exchange method and dispersed in vinylester using ultrasonication and twin screw extrusion. XRD of nanoclaylvinylester revealed exfoliaUon at 4 wt.% nanoclay indicating uniform dispersion in the polymer. DSC results showed improvement in glass transition temperature by 22.3% in 4 wt.% nanoclaylvinylester/glass when compared with that of vinylester/glass. Nanoclay/vinylester/glass with 4 wt,% nanoclay showed 29.23%, 23.84% and 60.87% improvement in ultimate tensile strength （UTS）, fiexural strength （FS） and interlaminar shear strength （ILSS） respectively when compared with those of vinylester! glass. The mode of tensile failure examined by SEM showed no agglomeration of nanoclay in 4 wt.% nanoclayNinylester/glass specimens.
