Investigation of the boron nitride/polybenzoxazine interphase

Abstract

The influence of a hexagonal boron nitride powder surface on the polymerization of a benzoxazine monomer is examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). By varying the thickness of the benzoxazine coatings on boron nitride particles, a distinct influence of the surface substrate on the polymerization reaction could be observed. At a coating thickness calculated to be on the order of a monolayer, the heat of reaction is reduced, while the exothermic peak temperature and peak width at half height are increased relative to that of the neat resin values. The reduced heat of reaction and increased exothermic peak temperature indicate that the boron nitride surface is inhibiting the benzoxazine polymerization reaction. In the intermediate coating thickness region, the heat of reaction increases and the exothermic peak temperature and peak width at half height decrease with increasing coating thickness. With even thicker coatings, the heat of reaction and exothermic peak temperature and peak width at half height reach values corresponding to that of the neat resin and no longer change with thickness. In addition, the influence of surface treated boron nitride particles on the thermal polymerization behavior, as well as the effect of the surface treatment on the viscosity, dynamic mechanical properties, and flexural properties of the filled composites are also investigated.