Graphene nanoplatelet-reinforced semi-crystal poly(arylene ether nitrile) nanocomposites prepared by the twin-screw extrusion

Abstract

Graphene nanoplatelet reinforced semi‐crystal poly(arylene ether nitrile) (PEN/GN) nanocomposites were prepared by an economically and environmentally friendly method of twin‐screw extrusion technique. The feasibility of using PEN/GN nanocomposites was investigated by evaluating their thermal behaviors, mechanical, and morphological properties. Thermal studies revealed that GN could act as nucleating agents but decreased the whole crystallinity in/of PEN/GN nanocomposites. Mechanical investigation manifested that GN had both strengthening effect (increase in flexural modulus and strength) and toughening effect (rise in the elongation and impact strength) on the mechanical performance of semi‐crystal PEN nanocomposites. Heat treatment can further increase their mechanical performances due to the increased crystallinity and release of inner stress. With the small addition of GN (<5 wt%), the morphology of PEN was changed from brittle to ductile, and GN showed good dispersion and adhesion in/to the PEN matrix. This work shows that in the semi‐crystal polymer/filler systems, besides the dispersion states of fillers and interactions between fillers and polymer matrices, the crystallinity of the nanocomposites affected by the existence of filler and the residual stress are also two key factors determining the mechanical properties. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:404–411, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers

Mechanical, dielectric, and thermal properties of polyarylene ether nitrile and boron nitride nanosheets composites

“…The nitrile groups, with strong polar on the aromatic ring, can promote the adhesion of the polymer main‐chain to many substrates and improve the dielectric constant effectively . The aryl ether bonds on the macromolecular main‐chain of PEN facilitate the solubility of PEN in polar organic solvents , such as N , N ‐dimethylformamide (DMF) , tetrahydrofuran , and N ‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone (NMP) , as well as wide range of processing window, making it easily to be processed into different kinds of products . In addition, PEN with different structures have been prepared by changing the monomer, especially the diphenols.…”

MWCNT-reinforced polyarylene ether nitrile nanocomposites

“…11 The good solubility of PEN in polar organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran, N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), and Nmethyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP), and wide range of processing window make it to be readily processed into different shaped forms. 12 However, the application of PEN in some special areas such as aerospace, military, and other extremely conditions is still lacking in the literature. Many studies have been reported attempting to improve the performances of PEN with all kinds of techniques, including chemical grafting, surface modification as well as physical blending.…”