Effects of Particles Size of Nanosilica on Properties of Polybenzoxazine Nanocomposites

Abstract

Polybenzoxazine nanocomposites filled with three different sizes of silica nanoparticles are investigated for their mechanical and thermal properties. In this research, silica nanoparticles with primary particle sizes of 7, 14 and 40 nm were incorporated in polybenzoxazine matrix at a fixed content of 3% by weight. From the experimental results, the storage modulus of the polybenzoxazine nanocomposite was found to systematically increase with decreasing the particle sizes of nanosilica suggesting better reinforcement of the smaller particles. Glass transition temperature was found to slightly increase with the addition of the silica nanoparticles. The uniformity of the composite samples were also evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis to show good dispersion of the silica nanoparticles in the composite samples as a result of high processability of the benzoxazine resin used i.e. low A-stage viscosity with good wetting behaviors. Degradation temperature at 5% weight loss (Td,5) of polybenzoxazine nanocomposites filled with different particle sizes of silica nanoparticles was found to increase from the value of 325 °C of the neat polybenzoxazine to the maximum value of about 340 °C with an addition of the nanosilica of the smallest particle size used. Finally, the smaller nanosilica particle size was also found to show more pronounced effect on Td,5enhancement of the composite samples as a result of greater barrier effect from larger surface area of the smaller particles.

The Synergistic Effects of Hybrid Micro and Nano Silica in Influencing the Mechanical Properties of Epoxy Composites—A New Model

“…It is seen that the particle is strongly bonded which prevents their mobility and deformation of the matrix by introducing mechanical resistance. This is also due to the effect of particle size of nano silica filled in epoxy polymer where smaller nano particles could fill in the blanks and increase the interfacial area between the silica particle surface and polymer matrix [ 18 , 19 ].…”