Development of polybenzoxazine–silica–titania (PBZ–SiO2–TiO2) hybrid nanomaterials with high surface free energy

• Published in: Journal of sol-gel science and technology 2014-12, Vol.72 (3), p.518-526
• Main Authors: Selvi, M., Devaraju, S., Vengatesan, M. R., Alagar, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Benzoxazines; Ceramics; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Colloidal gels. Colloidal sols; Colloidal state and disperse state; Composites; Contact angle; Exact sciences and technology; Free energy; General and physical chemistry; Glass; Inorganic Chemistry; Materials Science; Nanomaterials; Nanotechnology; Natural Materials; Optical and Electronic Materials; Original Paper; Polybenzoxazines; Silicon dioxide; Sol-gel processes; Tetraethyl orthosilicate; Thermal stability; Titanium dioxide
• ISSN: 0928-0707; 1573-4846
• DOI: 10.1007/s10971-014-3467-5

In the present work, silica and titania reinforced polybenzoxazine (PBZ–SiO 2 –TiO 2 ) hybrid nanomaterial possessing high surface free energy have been developed using dimethylol-functional benzoxazine monomer (4HBA-BZ), tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), 3-(isocyanatopropyl)triethoxysilane (ICPTS), titaniumisopropoxide (TIPO) through an in situ sol–gel process. Data obtained from the contact angle measurement indicate that the hybrid materials are hydrophilic in nature and possess a high surface free energy. For example, hybrid PBZ obtained from 1:1:0.6:0.4 (m:m:w:w) ratio of 4HBA-BZ:ICPTS:TEOS:TIPO (PBST 4 ) exhibit a high surface free energy of 38.2 mJm −2 which is higher than that of neat polybenzoxazine (29.5 mJm −2 ). Further data resulted from thermal studies indicate that the hybrid PBZ possess higher values of T g , thermal stability and char yield than those of neat PBZ.