Mechanical, dielectric, and thermal properties of polyarylene ether nitrile and boron nitride nanosheets composites

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The thermal conductivity of polyarylene ether nitrile (PEN) is effectively improved by the incorporation of boron nitride nanosheet (BNNS). BNNS is obtained via sonication exfoliation of commercial available hexagonal boron nitride (h‐BN) microplatelets in N‐methylpyrrolidone solvent. The BNNS, which is in 1–3 layers, is characterized by Atomic Force Microscopy measurement, Transmission electron microscopy observation and Ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectrum. The BNNS is incorporated into the PEN matrix to fabricate BNNS/PEN nanocomposites by using the solution‐casting method. The micromorphologies, thermal, mechanical, dielectric, and thermal conductivity properties of the obtained BNNS/PEN nanocomposites are investigated in detail. Scanning electron microscopy observation shows that the BNNS is homogeneously dispersed in the PEN matrix. The obtained BNNS/PEN nanocomposites show good thermal stability as the glass transition temperatures and initial decomposition temperatures of them are higher than 200 and 490°C. The coefficients of thermal expansion decreases with the increasing of BNNS, and is as low as 0.33 µm/°C when 5.0 wt% of BNNS is incorporated. The thermal conductivity increases with 64% at 5.0 wt% content of BNNS. The incorporation of the BNNS makes these BNNS/PEN composites as potential candidates to be used at high temperature with small thermal deformation. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E1598–E1605, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers