Experimental and molecular dynamics study of boron nitride nanotube-reinforced polymethyl methacrylate composites

Abstract

Heat dissipation is very essential for the efficient working of electronic devices. There is a widespread demand for high thermal conductivity materials. Boron nitride nanotubes have high thermal conductivity but due to their poor interfacial adhesion with polymers, their use as heat dissipating material is restricted. In this study, a silane-coupling agent has been used to modify the boron nitride nanotubes. These tubes were then inserted in polymethyl methacrylate matrix. Various properties such as thermal conductivity, storage modulus, and loss factor have been predicted. Molecular dynamics simulations have also been used for accurate prediction of the properties of boron nitride nanotubes/polymethyl methacrylate composites. The boron nitride nanotubes weight percentage was varied from 0% to 70% for studying the effect on thermal conductivity, storage modulus, and loss factor. The experimentally obtained thermal conductivity increased rapidly from 0.6 W/mK at 40 wt.% of boron nitride nanotubes to about 3.8 W/mK at 80 wt.% of boron nitride nanotubes in polymethyl methacrylate matrix (an increase of nearly 533%). A similar trend was obtained using molecular dynamics simulations. The storage modulus increased from 2 GPa (for pure polymethyl methacrylate) to about 5 GPa (for 70 wt.% boron nitride nanotubes). The glass transition temperature of boron nitride nanotubes/polymethyl methacrylate composites shifted to higher temperatures with an increase in boron nitride nanotubes weight percentage.

Effect of Hexagonal Boron nitride Nanopowder Reinforcement and Mixing Methods on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Self-Cured PMMA for Dental Applications

“…An electrostatic nano-assembly method was also carried on to make h-BN/PMMA in order to promote the heat-conducting properties of the composite [18]. Moreover, PMMA composites were reinforced with boron nitride nanotubes (BNNT) by using in-situ polymerization process to enhance the thermal conductivity of the nanocomposite [19]. Using boron powder and metal oxide as reactants under chemical vapor deposition method and a 1wt.% BNNTs fraction in PMMA, the elastic modulus of the composite was increased up to 19% [20].…”

Dielectric properties of polymer‐derived ceramic reinforced with boron nitride nanotubes

“…BNNTs also show significant superiority in thermal and chemical stability compared to CNTs in air 18,32,33 . Especially, BNNTs possesses perfect electrical insulation 34‐36 and superb oxidation resistance, 37 which can be used to adjust the real relative permittivity and dielectric loss tangent of materials 38 . BNNTs therefore are excellent candidates 39 for reinforcing polymers, 38,40‐45 ceramics, 18,36,46‐49 and metals 50 …”

“…18,32,33 Especially, BNNTs possesses perfect electrical insulation [34][35][36] and superb oxidation resistance, 37 which can be used to adjust the real relative permittivity and dielectric loss tangent of materials. 38 BNNTs therefore are excellent candidates 39 for reinforcing polymers, 38,[40][41][42][43][44][45] ceramics, 18,36,[46][47][48][49] and metals. 50 Therefore, PDCs reinforced with BNNTs are expected to be excellent ceramic composites to meet the EM transparent application requirements.…”

Boron Nitride Nanotubes: Force Field Parameterization, Epoxy Interactions, and Comparison with Carbon Nanotubes for High-Performance Composite Materials

“…Polymer matrix composites (PMCs) are currently being considered as a primary structural material for aerospace vehicles. Reinforced nanocomposite materials have been shown to provide exceptional material properties over traditional PMCs. − Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) exhibit remarkable mechanical properties at higher temperatures, electrical insulation, and radiation shielding − and have recently been shown to be an excellent reinforcement in nanocomposite materials. ,− However, to fabricate high-performance BNNT-reinforced PMCs efficiently and effectively, a thorough understanding of the BNNT/polymer interfacial interaction is needed. , …”