Synthesis of Epoxy-Montmorillonite nanocomposite coatings for corrosion protection of Al

Nanocomposites are a relatively new class of materials, which exhibit ultrafine phase dimensions, typically in the range1-100 nm.Experimental work on these materials has generally shown that virtually all types and classes of nanocomposites lead to new and improved properties when compared to their micro and macro composite counterparts. Polymer nanocomposites, especially polymer-layered silicate nanocomposites, represent a radical alternative to conventionally (macroscopically) filled polymers. Because of their nanometer-size dispersion, the nanocomposites exhibit markedly improved properties when compared with the pure polymers or conventional composites. These include increased modulus and strength, decreased permeability, decreased shrinkage, increased heat resistance and decreased flammability.Epoxy resins are extensively employed in a wide range of applications such as adhesives to coatings to matrices of composites because of their excellent thermal, environmental, and dimensional stabilities. Furthermore, epoxies have excellent bulk properties such as strength, modulus, hardness, and adhesion to fibres. Clays such as montmorillonites (M.M.Ts) have a remarkable ability to exchange ions. Their structure consists of two fused silica tetrahedral sheets sandwiching an edge shared octahedral sheet. Isomorphous substitution of Si+4 for Al+3 in the tetrahedral lattice and of Al+3 for Mg+2in the octahedral sheet