Organo Modified Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Pyridine Core Polybenzoxazine (MWCNT/PBZ) Nanocomposites
Abstract
A new series of multi-walled carbon nanotube reinforced polybenzoxazine (MWCNT/PBZ) nanocomposites was successfully designed and developed. Three different maleimido terminal benzoxazine monomers (MI-BZs) were synthesized using N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) maleimide (HPM) and formaldehyde solution through Mannich condensation reaction and were characterized by FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy. Varying weight percentages (0 wt.%, 0.5 wt.%, 1.0 wt.% and 1.5 wt.%) of glycidyl-MWCNT were then incorporated into benzoxazine matrices to prepare MWCNT/PBZ nanocomposites. The nanocomposites having higher weight percentage of MWCNT were found to possess excellent thermal properties than those of neat PBZs. The developed nanocomposites exhibited better flame retardancy and higher dielectric constant. The optical properties ascertained from the UV-Vis absorption bands at the region of 300–350 nm and strong fluorescent emissions were observed in the wavelength range of 300–550 nm from Photoluminescence analysis. The intensity of characteristic diffraction peaks corresponding to g-MWCNT confirmed the reinforcement of MWCNT in the benzoxazine matrices, which indicated the successful formation of nanocomposites. The morphological studies ascertain the compatibility and uniform dispersion of MWCNT in the PBZ network.
