Multifunctional polymer composites: Antibacterial, flame retardant, radar absorbing and self-healing

Abstract

Multifunctional materials are able to respond to environmental stimuli by exhibiting particular changes in some of their properties. Desired properties can be combined to create a new item with composite materials due to their suitability for achieving multi-functionality with the best characteristics of different materials. In this study, the aim is to further the investigations of these types of materials and to advance the molecular understanding of novel multifunctional materials for applications across different scientific disciplines. Regarding the production of multifunctional materials, four types of materials were added to the polymer matrix to obtain the following properties: antibacterial, radar absorbing, self-healing, and flame retardant. In this research, an epoxy dye was converted to a multifunctional material which is capable of performing multiple functions. In order to reinforce an epoxy dye, Ag nanoparticles, huntite/hydromagnesite minerals, barium hexaferrite particles, and chitosan were utilized for multifunction property. By adding those materials to the polymer matrix with different loading level, different types of coated samples were obtained. Subsequently, the samples were characterized by antibacterial tests, flame-retardant tests, radar absorbing tests, and self-healing tests besides other characterization tests; FTIR, SEM, XRD, scratch, surface profilometer, etc. It was concluded that these materials exhibited a synergetic beneficial effects.