IR study on hydrogen bonding in epoxy resin-silica nanocomposites

The chemical and physical interactions between ingredients in composites play an important role in the improvement of service prop-sity loss of isocyanate absorption band in conjunction with the intensity growth of carboxyl absorption band indicates the progress of reaction. FT-IR spectroscopy was also adopted to examine the intermolecular hydrogen bonding of epoxy resin with silica as well as intramolecular one within polymer matrix. The vibration frequency of carboxyl group (-C=O) and hydroxyl group (-OH) shifts from 1736 to 1728 cm-1and 3420 to 3414 cm-1, respectively, indicating the occurrence of hydrogen bonding between -C=O and -OH. The vibration frequency of Si-OH moves from 3435 to 3414 cm -1, suggesting the involvement of silica. Whereas the vibration frequency of pending -OH in polymer chain moves from 3435 to 3420 cm-1 or 3414 cm-1, proposing that this kind of interaction can also happen within polymer matrix.