Halloysite nanotubes functionalized with epoxy and thiol organosilane groups to improve fracture toughness in nanocomposites

The surface functionalization of nanofillers imbibed within the matrix provides great interfacial adhesion with the epoxy resin and as such, in this study, the pure and functionalized halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) were used as fillers to improve the fracture toughness of an SC-15 epoxy resin. The HNTs were grafted with an organosilane group having terminal epoxy and thiol functional groups as two different crosslinkers and were thoroughly...