Functionalized MWCNTs, an efficient reinforcement for the preparation of eugenol based high performance PBz/BMI/CNT nanocomposites exhibiting outstanding thermo-mechanical properties

Abstract

The chemistry of benzoxazine synthesis offers wide molecular design flexibility and thus facilitates preparation of various polybenzoxazine based composites. In this paper, we reported the preparation of polybenzoxazine/BMI blend and subsequent preparation of nanocomposites with amine functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (F-MWCNTs). The curing mechanism and the material properties of the blend and nanocomposites were studied extensively. DSC analysis showed two exothermic maxima, corresponding to benzoxazine and allyl group polymerization. Furthermore, by the incorporation of F-MWCNTs into the PBz/BMI system, the properties of the PBz/BMI/F-MWCNT nanocomposites were improved significantly. The enhancement in the material properties is due to the strong interaction between the F-MWCNTs and PBz, resulting in the formation of interpenetrating polymer networks. The morphology and fracture surface of the nanocomposites were studied by scanning electron microscopy. The thermal, mechanical and dielectric properties of the nanocomposites are found to be outstanding when compared with the neat PBz and PBz/BMI blend.