Constructing Novel Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) Composites through a Biomimetic Approach: Connecting Glass Fiber with Nanosized Boron Nitride by Polydopamine Coating

XueMei Wen,Huaiqi Shao,Wei Zhang,Jian Li,Lei Zhang,Tao Jiang,ZaoZao Xiao

doi:10.1155/2013/470583

XueMei Wen, Huaiqi Shao + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/470583

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Abstract

A biomimetic method was developed to construct novel fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) composites. By mimicking mussel adhesive proteins, a monolayer of polydopamine was coated on glass fiber (GF) surface. The polydopamine-treated GF (D-GF) adsorbed boron nitride (BN) nanoparticles, while obtaining micronano multiscale hybrid fillers BN-D-GF. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results showed that the strong interfacial interaction brought by the polydopamine benefits the loading amount as well as dispersion of the nano-BN on GF’s surface. The BN-D-GF was incorporated into epoxy resin to construct “FRP nanocomposites.” The morphology, dynamic mechanical and thermal characteristics of the FRP nanocomposites were analyzed. SEM morphology revealed that BN-D-GF heterogeneous dispersed in epoxy matrix. There was good adhesion between the polymer matrix and the BN-D-GF filler. The dynamic modulus and mechanical loss were studied using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Compared with neat epoxy and untreated GF reinforced composites, BN-D-GF/epoxy and D-GF/epoxy systems showed improved mechanical properties. The thermal conductivity, Shore D hardness, and insulation properties were also enhanced.

Highlights

Epoxy resins are a class of high performance thermosetting polymers for application in the automotive, construction, and aerospace industries
We hypothesized that if a catechol-rich polymer layer can be prepared as the interface between nanofillers and glass fiber (GF), the interfacial interactions may be significantly enhanced and the physical/chemical properties of the fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) composites can be improved at very low nanofillers loadings
It was different for specimens that dopamine domains acted as coupling agent and adhered to the glass fiber surfaces (BN-dopamine-modified glass fiber (D-GF))

Summary

Introduction

Epoxy resins are a class of high performance thermosetting polymers for application in the automotive, construction, and aerospace industries. Filling epoxy resin with nanomaterials, especially thermally conductive nanofillers (Al2O3 [15], AlN [16], BN [17]), Journal of Nanomaterials is emerged as an effective way to enhance the rather poor thermal conductivity of epoxy resin, because the heat dissipation in microelectronic packaging is becoming increasingly important as the demands in denser and faster circuits intensify Their dispersion and interfacial interactions with epoxy resin matrix are the most crucial factor affecting the optimal properties of the nanocomposites [18, 19]. In 2007, Lee et al reported polydopamine (PDOPA) adhesive coatings on a wide variety of material surfaces including noble metals, oxides, polymers, semiconductors, and ceramics prepared by mimicking MAPs [25] Inspired by these works, we hypothesized that if a catechol-rich polymer layer can be prepared as the interface between nanofillers and GF, the interfacial interactions may be significantly enhanced and the physical/chemical properties of the FRP composites can be improved at very low nanofillers loadings. The structure, morphology, and thermomechanical properties of these novel materials were in detail investigated

Materials and Methods

Characterization

Test of Neat Epoxy Resin and FRP Composites

Results and Discussion

Conclusions