This comprehensive study investigated mechanical and thermal properties, and biodegradability of bioepoxy/clay nanocomposites based on soybean oils in line with their morphological structures and clay dispersion. Bioepoxy/clay nanocomposites were fabricated using a solution casting method according to the preferred combination of factors predetermined from our previous Taguchi design of experiments (DoEs). The effect of material formulation in terms of contents of epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) and Cloisite 15 clays, and curing agent type was of particular interest in this study. A typical mix of partial clay intercalation/exfoliation and clay aggregation was clearly observed in such bionanocomposites, irrespective of different material formulations in use. The increase in ESO content demonstrated significant enhancements in both impact strength and biodegradability when compared to those of conventional nanocomposites. However, tensile properties, hardness, and thermal properties of bionanocomposites conversely declined accordingly, arising from the plasticization effect of ESO to produce flexible biodegradable materials with less brittle nature.

这项全面的研究调查了基于大豆油的生物环氧/粘土纳米复合材料的机械和热性能以及其生物降解性，并与其形态结构和粘土分散性相一致。根据我们先前的Taguchi实验设计（DoEs）预先确定的因素的优选组合，使用溶液流延法制造生物环氧/粘土纳米复合材料。在本研究中，材料配方对环氧化大豆油（ESO）和Cloisite 15粘土的含量以及固化剂类型的影响尤为重要。不论使用哪种材料配方，在这种生物纳米复合材料中都清楚地观察到典型的部分粘土插层/剥落和粘土聚集的混合物。与传统的纳米复合材料相比，ESO含量的增加显示出冲击强度和生物降解性的显着提高。然而，由于ESO的增塑作用产生了脆性较小的柔性可生物降解材料，因此，Bionano复合材料的拉伸性能，硬度和热性能相应地下降。