The Influence of Nanosized Zirconium (IV) Oxide on the Catalytic Curing of Epoxy Resin ED-20 with Isomethyltetrahydrophthalic Anhydride

The effect of the filler - the nanoparticles of zirconium (IV) oxide (16.5nm) on the thermal stability of composites based on epoxy resin ED-20, isomethyltetrahydrophthalic anhydride, complex catalyst, and plasticizer has been studied. The yield of the sol fraction of composites with different content of ZrO
₂
nanoparticles has been evaluated by the derivatography method. The resistance of the obtained polymers and composites to thermal oxidative degradation has been evaluated by derivatography. Evaluation of the effectiveness of the influence of ZrO
₂
on the curing has been carried out according to the data of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) by the Kissinger method. The optimal content of ZrO
₂
in the composition has been established.