Morphology and Thermal Stability of Novolac Phenolic Resin/Clay Nanocomposites Prepared via Solution High‐Shear Mixing

Phenolic resin/clay composites were prepared by high‐shear mixing of clay suspended in CH 3 OH solutions of Novolac resin and curing agent. Pure clay Cloisite Na + and pillared clays Cloisite 10A, 30B, and Na + Cloisite that was pillared by 3‐hexadecyl‐1‐methylimidazolium bromide were studied. After CH 3 OH evaporation, Novolac was cured at low temperatures. XRD showed that clay gallery d ‐spacings decreased upon solvent evaporation and partial curing. Slight d ‐spacing increases were sometimes observed from a partially cured stage to a further cured composite. Na + Cloisite gave the highest nanodispersion, Cloisites 10A and 30B the lowest. TGA revealed that Na + clay or organoclay incorporation in partially cured and cured composites did not improve the thermal stability of Novolac. magnified image