Light weight polymer Nano composites reinforced with h-BN for high temperature applications

This work presents the behavior of a polymer matrix reinforced with h-Boron Nitride (h-BN in powder form) at Nano level reinforcements, to study the strength and thermal stability aspects for high-temperature applications. Composite specimens were prepared by adding varying amount (0.1 to 0.5 wt. percentages) of reinforcements (h-BN) in the base polymer matrix (epoxy). Dispersion of h-BN was carried out using ultrasonic energy. Prepared epoxy beams were tested under tensile load and flexureto evaluate their mechanical properties such as tensile strength and load-deflection conditions. Composite material was tested using Thermo Gravimetric Analysis to study their degradation with increasing temperature. These results were compared with the plain epoxy polymer specimens. This work further investigates the ideal percentage of h-BN that gives the best results in terms of both enhanced properties and economic viability. Scanning electron microscopic testing was conducted to examine the interfacial surface adhesion between the h-BNs and the polymer matrix. Polymer composite with h-BNs 0.4% by weight showed enhanced results in strength by 49.25% when compared with plain epoxy beams due to uniform filler dispersion. It was found that addition of h-BN Nanoparticles, the material loss in the elevated temperatures has been reduced.