Silver-embedded modified hyperbranched epoxy/clay nanocomposites as antibacterial materials

► Silver-embedded modified hyperbranched epoxy/clay nanocomposites were prepared. ► Improvements of scratch hardness, tensile and adhesive strength were observed. ► The nanocomposites showed potential as antibacterial materials. ► The nanocomposites exhibit radical scavenging activity in an anti-hemolysis test. Silver-embedded modified hyperbranched epoxy/clay nanocomposites were prepared at different wt.% of octadecyl amine-modified montmorillonite at a constant silver concentration (1wt.%). UV–visible, XRD and TEM studies confirmed the formation of silver nanoparticles. Compared to the system without silver and clay, the gloss from 70° to 94°, scratch hardness from 4 to 5.8kg, impact strength from 60 to 90cm, tensile strength from 8.5 to 15.5MPa, adhesive strength from 5 to 7.1×109N/m, flexibility from >6 to