title: Enhanced mechanical properties of epoxy nanocomposites by mixing noncovalently functionalized boron nitride nanoflakes.
abstract: The influence of surface modifications on the mechanical properties of epoxy-hexagonal boron nitride nanoflake (BNNF) nanocomposites is investigated. Homogeneous distributions of boron nitride nanoflakes in a polymer matrix, preserving intrinsic material properties of boron nitride nanoflakes, is the key to successful composite applications. Here, a method is suggested to obtain noncovalently functionalized BNNFs with 1-pyrenebutyric acid (PBA) molecules and to synthesize epoxy-BNNF nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical properties. The incorporation of noncovalently functionalized BNNFs into epoxy resin yields an elastic modulus of 3.34 GPa, and 71.9 MPa ultimate tensile strength at 0.3 wt%. The toughening enhancement is as high as 107% compared to the value of neat epoxy. The creep strain and the creep compliance of the noncovalently functionalized BNNF nanocomposite is significantly less than the neat epoxy and the nonfunctionalized BNNF nanocomposite. Noncovalent functionalization of BNNFs is effective to increase mechanical properties by strong affinity between the fillers and the matrix.
authors: Department of Material Science and Engineering, Graphene Research Center-GRC, KAIST Institute for the NanoCentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology-KAIST, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Dongju
authors: D
authors: Lee
authors: Sung Ho
authors: SH
authors: Song
authors: Jaewon
authors: J
authors: Hwang
authors: Sung Hwan
authors: SH
authors: Jin
authors: Kwang Hyun
authors: KH
authors: Park
authors: Bo Hyun
authors: BH
authors: Kim
authors: Soon Hyung
authors: SH
authors: Hong
authors: Seokwoo
authors: S
authors: Jeon
keywords: boron nitride nanoflakes; epoxy composites; mechanical properites; nanocomposites; noncovalent functionalization