Dispersing Nanoparticles by Chiral Liquid Crystalline Elastomers for Performance Enhancement of Epoxy Nanocomposites

作者：Shen, Yu; Cong, Yue-Hua; Zhang, Bao-Yan^*; Lang, Qing-You; Hu, Bing

来源：Macromolecular Materials and Engineering, 2018, 303(10): 1800215.

DOI：10.1002/mame.201800215

• Al2O3
• dispersion
• liquid crystalline elastomers
• nanoparticles
• thermal conductivity
• toughness

Epoxy nanocomposites with novel chiral side-chain liquid crystalline elastomers (CSLCE) as dispersant grafted alumina (Al2O3) nanoparticles are prepared. The CSLCE are grafted onto the surface of Al2O3 by esterification, improving the dispersion of Al2O3 in organics. The side chain of CSLCE is composed of M-1 containing a chiral mesogenic unit, a liquid crystal cross-linking agent M-2 containing a nematic mesogenic unit, and M-3 containing carboxyl groups, which is because the structures can determine the characteristics of polymers. Optical rotation emerges via chiral mesogenic units in CSLCE, and the liquid crystal cross-linking agent in the side chain causes the polymer to be linked into chains. The fracture toughness and thermal conductivity of Al2O3-CSLCE/epoxy nanocomposites are significantly improved due to the good dispersion of Al2O3 nanoparticles in the epoxy and the synergistic interaction between Al2O3 and CSLCE. Meanwhile, the glass transition temperatures and thermal stability are enhanced.

• 出版日期2018-10
• 单位东北大学