International. Smart nanogel capsules are attracting great attention to act as self-healing materials for polymers. A research paper by scientists from Saudi Arabia and Egypt was aimed at incorporating nanogel between layers of sodium montmorillonite silicate to increase its dispersibility in an epoxy matrix and to be used as self-healing nanocomposites.
For this purpose, N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAm) was selected as a salt-sensitive monomer to prepare smart nanogels to disperse layers of sodium montmorillonite (Na-MMT).
The chemical structure, surface morphology, particle size distribution, surface charge and degree of exfoliation of Na-MMT with NIPAm nanogel were investigated. The ability of Na-MMT / NIPAm to modify the mechanical, surface and self-healing characteristics of the epoxy matrix was studied.
Corrosion inhibition and self-healing mechanism were discussed in light of the salt spray resistance of epoxy nanocomposites to protect steel from corrosive environments.
Source: Springer.
