ROOM TEMPERATURE IONIC LIQUID-EPOXY SYSTEMS AS DISPERSANTS AND MATRIX MATERIALS FOR NANOCOMPOSITES

摘要

Formulations containing a mixture of an epoxy resin and an ionic liquid or an adduct of an epoxy resin and an ionic liquid which may initiate curing of the epoxy resin, the mixture having nano-materials dispersed or dissolved therein. These formulations can be used for the preparation of nanocomposites. Methods of preparing nanocomposites by curing a dispersion of nano-materials in a mixture of an epoxy resin and an ionic liquid or an adduct of an epoxy resin and an ionic liquid which may initiate curing of the epoxy resin. Nanocomposites comprising a cured product formed by curing an epoxy resin with an ionic liquid or an adduct of an epoxy resin and an ionic liquid having nano-materials dispersed or dissolved therein. Embodiments of the invention permit manufacture of nanocomposites having relatively high fracture toughness, relatively high loadings of nano-materials and the ability to tailor the properties of the nano-composites.