A comprehensive experimental study on the effects of hexagonal boron nitride particle size and loading ratio on thermal and mechanical performance in epoxy composites

Abstract

Harnessing the potential of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) in epoxy composites for tailoring thermal conductivity is a promising avenue in materials science. However, achieving balanced enhancements in both in-plane and through-plane directions remains a challenge that requires innovative solutions. The primary objective of this research is to evaluate how thermal and mechanical characteristics of an epoxy matrix are affected by the size and amount of h-BN particles. To achieve this goal, h-BN particles with varying sizes (micro and nano) are incorporated into the epoxy matrix at different weight ratios spanning from 0.5 wt % to 20 wt % using a pre-dispersion technique. The epoxy composites reinforced with h-BN through a molding process exhibits enhanced mechanical and thermal performance in contrast to the pristine epoxy material. During the flexural test, acoustic emission data is collected to identify the initiation and progression of damage within the specimens under testing conditions. The most notable enhancement in thermal conductivity is observed when incorporating 20 wt% of micron-sized h-BN particles. This leads to a remarkable 107% increase in the in-plane direction and an impressive 112% increase in the through-plane direction. These results can be attributed to the formation of a three-dimensional thermally conductive network by the larger h-BN particles, which extends the path of phonon scattering. Furthermore, there are significant improvements in both flexural modulus and tensile modulus. Epoxy composites containing 10 wt% of micron-sized h-BN experiences an approximate 42% increase, while those with 20 wt% of the same particles displays a substantial 47% rise in these properties. This study effectively addresses the challenges associated with tailoring the thermal properties of epoxy composites, opening up new opportunities for applications in various industries, including electronics, aerospace and thermal management systems.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

h-BN epoxy composites particle size loading ratio thermal conductivity mechanical properties

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Zhang

. Thermal properties of amino-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes reinforced epoxy-based transducers embedded in concrete. Cem Concr Compos 2022; 127: 104411. DOI: 10.1016/J.CEMCONCOMP.2022.104411

Wang

. Epoxy nanocomposites with high thermal conductivity and low loss factor: realize 3D thermal conductivity network at low content through core-shell structure and micro-nano technology. Polym Test 2020; 89: 106574. DOI: 10.1016/J.POLYMERTESTING.2020.106574

Durukan

Beylergil

Dulgerbaki

. Effects of silane-modified nano-CaCO3 particles on the mechanical properties of carbon fiber/epoxy (CF/EP) composites. Polym Compos. 2023; 44(3): 1805–1821. DOI: 10.1002/pc.27206

Song

Zhang

, et al. Attaching SiO2 nanoparticles to GO sheets via amino-terminated hyperbranched polymer for epoxy composites: extraordinary improvement in thermal and mechanical properties. Eur Polym J 2021; 157: 110677. DOI: 10.1016/J.EURPOLYMJ.2021.110677

Kumar

. Functionalities of ZnO reinforced thermoplastics composite materials: a state of the art review. Mater Today Proc 2022; 51: 972–976. DOI: 10.1016/J.MATPR.2021.07.020

Yuan

. Modulating the thermal conductivity in hexagonal boron nitride via controlled boron isotope concentration. Commun Phys 2019; 21: 1–8. DOI: 10.1038/s42005-019-0145-5

Zhang

Dang

, et al. Thermal conductivity epoxy resin composites filled with boron nitride, 2011. DOI: 10.1002/pat.2063

Tang

. Temperature effects on the dielectric properties and breakdown performance of h-BN/epoxy composites. Materials 2019; 12(24): 4112. DOI: 10.3390/MA12244112

Hou

. Preparation and characterization of surface modified boron nitride epoxy composites with enhanced thermal conductivity. RSC Adv 2014; 4(83): 44282–44290. DOI: 10.1039/c4ra07394k

10.

Jang

Lee

Kim

, et al. Eco-friendly and scalable strategy to design electrically insulating boron nitride/polymer composites with high through-plane thermal conductivity. Composites Part B 2023; 248: 110355. DOI: 10.1016/J.COMPOSITESB.2022.110355

11.

Huang

. Boron nitride and hyperbranched polyamide assembled recyclable polyisoprene vitrimer with robust mechanical properties, high thermal conductivity and remoldability. Polymer 2020; 208: 122964. DOI: 10.1016/J.POLYMER.2020.122964

12.

Yang

. Mussel-inspired modification of boron nitride for natural rubber composites with high thermal conductivity and low dielectric constant, 2019. DOI: 10.1016/j.compscitech.2019.04.016

13.

Yang

Wei

, et al. Natural rubber composites with enhanced thermal conductivity fabricated via modification of boron nitride by covalent and non-covalent interactions. Compos Sci Technol 2021; 202(November 2020): 108590. DOI: 10.1016/j.compscitech.2020.108590

14.

Zhang

Huang

, et al. Enhanced thermal conductivity of polyvinyl alcohol insulation composites with m-BN@CNW hybrid materials. Compos Sci Technol 2021; 208: 108766. DOI: 10.1016/J.COMPSCITECH.2021.108766

15.

Bai

. The influence of nano/micro hybrid structure on the mechanical and self-sensing properties of carbon nanotube-microparticle reinforced epoxy matrix composite. Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf 2013; 54: 28–36. DOI: 10.1016/J.COMPOSITESA.2013.07.002

16.

Chen

. Controllable synthesis of boron nitride submicron tubes and their excellent mechanical property and thermal conductivity applied in the epoxy resin polymer composites. Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf 2022; 154: 106783. DOI: 10.1016/J.COMPOSITESA.2021.106783

17.

Saha

. Effect of non-ionic surfactant assisted modification of hexagonal boron nitride nanoplatelets on the mechanical and thermal properties of epoxy nanocomposites. Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf 2015; 22: 611–627. DOI: 10.1080/09276440.2015.1056688

18.

Han

. Mechanical, toughness and thermal properties of 2D material- reinforced epoxy composites. Polymer 2019; 184: 121884. DOI: 10.1016/J.POLYMER.2019.121884

19.

Wattanakul

Manuspiya

Yanumet

. The adsorption of cationic surfactants on BN surface: its effects on the thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of BN-epoxy composite. Colloids Surfaces A Physicochem Eng. Asp 2010; 369(1–3): 203–210. DOI: 10.1016/J.COLSURFA.2010.08.021

20.

Yan

Tang

, et al. Enhanced thermal-mechanical properties of polymer composites with hybrid boron nitride nanofillers. Appl Phys Mater Sci Process 2014; 114(2): 331–337. DOI: 10.1007/S00339-013-8149-6/FIGURES/7

21.

Joy

George

Thomas

, et al. Effect of filler loading on polymer chain confinement and thermomechanical properties of epoxy/boron nitride (h-BN) nanocomposites. New J Chem 2020; 44(11): 4494–4503. DOI: 10.1039/C9NJ05834F

22.

Zhang

. Synthesis of pyridine-containing diamine and properties of its polyimides and polyimide/hexagonal boron nitride composite films. Undefined 2017; 152: 165–172. DOI: 10.1016/J.COMPSCITECH.2017.09.026

23.

Song

. h-BN orientation degree on the thermal conductivity anisotropy of their silicone rubber composites: a quantitative study. Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf 2023; 166: 107389. DOI: 10.1016/J.COMPOSITESA.2022.107389

24.

Wen

. Constructing novel fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) composites through a biomimetic approach: connecting glass fiber with nanosized boron nitride by polydopamine coating. J Nanomater 2013; 2013. DOI: 10.1155/2013/470583

25.

Wang

Han

, et al. Enhanced thermal conductive boron nitride/silicon carbide/silicone elastomer with nonlinear conductive characteristic and partial discharge resistance. In: Annu Rep - Conf Electr Insul Dielectr Phenomena, CEIDP. 2019-October, pp. 70–73. DOI: 10.1109/CEIDP47102.2019.9009730.

26.

Yung

Wang

Yue

. Thermal management for boron nitride filled metal core printed circuit board. Polymer; 42: 2615–2627. DOI: 10.1177/0021998308096326

27.

Huang

, et al. Interfacial modification of boron nitride nanoplatelets for epoxy composites with improved thermal properties. Polymer 2012; 53(2): 471–480. DOI: 10.1016/J.POLYMER.2011.12.040

28.

Lau

. Thermal conductivity of boron nitride-filled thermoplastics: effect of filler characteristics and composite processing conditions. Polym Compos 2005; 26(6): 778–790. DOI: 10.1002/PC.20151

29.

Yetgin

Veziroglu

Aktas

, et al. Enhancing thermal conductivity of epoxy with a binary filler system of h-BN platelets and Al2O3 nanoparticles. Int J Adhes Adhes 2020; 98: 102540. DOI: 10.1016/J.IJADHADH.2019.102540

30.

Chen

. Thermal conductivity of polymer-based composites: fundamentals and applications. Prog Polym Sci 2016; C(59): 41–85. DOI: 10.1016/J.PROGPOLYMSCI.2016.03.001

31.

Zhou

Zhao

. Thermally conductive silicone rubber reinforced with boron nitride particle. Polym Compos 2007; 28(1): 23–28. DOI: 10.1002/PC.20296

32.

Wattanakul

Manuspiya

Yanumet

. Effective surface treatments for enhancing the thermal conductivity of BN-filled epoxy composite. J Appl Polym Sci 2011; 119(6): 3234–3243. DOI: 10.1002/APP.32889

33.

Monfared Zanjani

Okan

Menceloglu

, et al. Nano-engineered design and manufacturing of high-performance epoxy matrix composites with carbon fiber/selectively integrated graphene as multi-scale reinforcements. RSC Adv 2016; 6(12): 9495–9506. DOI: 10.1039/C5RA23665G

Supplementary Material

Please find the following supplemental material available below.

For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.

For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.

0.00 MB

0.70 MB