Thermal and mechanical properties of organic inorganic polymer composites using nanoscale modifiers

Abstract

In the present study, we have taken polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and newlinepolyetherimide (PEI) from organic polymers and polycarbosilane (PCS) and newlinepolyphosphazene (PPH) from inorganic polymer to functionalize multiwall carbon newlinenanotubes (MWCNT) and montmorillonite (MMT) used to develop nanocomposites. newlineThe main objective of the present work is to develop nanocomposites bases on PEEK newlineand PEI based system incorporating PCS, PPH, MWCNT and MMT. Polycarbosilane newlinecoated MWCNT and polyphosphazene coated MWCNT are taken in the ratio of 0.1, 0.3 newlineand 0.5 % to optimise the matrix and enhance the various properties such as mechanical, newlinethermal and morphological properties for various applications. Functionalization/ newlinemodification of MWCNT provides excellent dispersion of MWCNT in polymer newlinematrices. Modification of nanofiller provides elimination or reduction of Van Der Walls newlineforces. The modification brings a reduction in filler-filler interactions and enhances the newlinepolymer filler interaction to a greater extent and this results in excellent dispersion of newlinenanofiller in polymer matrices. All the formulations are prepared by melt mixing process newlineusing a co-rotating twin-screw extruder. The specimens for testing are prepared by the newlineinjection moulding machine. newlineMechanical properties of the developed nanocomposites are enhanced with newlinethe addition of MWCNT and MMT. Thermal properties i.e. heat deflection temperature newline(HDT) is also increased with the addition of nanofiller. newlineFor further enhancement in mechanical and thermal properties and better newlinedispersion, inorganic polymer-coated MWCNT s are blended with an organic polymer. newlineIt has also been observed that polycarbosilane and polyphosphazene treated MWCNT newlineshow better mechanical properties as compared to virgin MWCNT. newline