In situ synthesis and characterization of poly(2,5-benzoxazole)/multiwalled carbon nanotubes composites

This article reports the synthesis of poly(2,5-benzoxazole)/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (ABPBO/MWNT) composites by in situ polycondensation and their chemical and physical properties. The functional groups yielded from the surface modification of MWNTs by hydrochloric acids have been demonstrated to participate in the polymerization and thus led to the composites with homogenous dispersion of carbon nanotubes. The chemical structures and morphology of the afforded polymer composites have been fully characterized by FTIR, WAXD, UV-vis, TGA and SEM. The ABPBO/MWNT composites exhibit excellent thermal stability and greatly improved mechanical properties. The tensile modulus and tensile strength of the composites are 47% and 83%, respectively, higher than those of the polymer matrix. The dielectric constant of the composites is also significantly enhanced from 4 of the polymer matrix to 65 with the incorporation of 5 wt% MWNTs. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.