Cyanate Ester/Functionalized Silica Nanocomposite: Synthesis, Characterization and Properties

In this paper silica nanoparticles with covalently grafted polymer chains were incorporated into bisphenol A dicyanate ester (BADCy) to prepare composites which resulted in improvements in the mechanical and thermal properties. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were employed to examine the surface functionalization of silica nanoparticles. The effects of functionalized SiO2 (F-SiO2) on the curing reactivity mechanical and thermal properties of BADCy resin were investigated systematically. The curing reaction of the system was facilitated with the addition of F-SiO2. Meanwhile compared with the neat resin the incorporation of appropriate content of modified F-SiO2 can enhance the mechanical properties including impact flexural strengths and fracture toughness KIC of BADCy resin. In addition the thermal stability of BADCy/F-SiO2 nanocomposites is also superior to that of pure BADCy resin.