Effects of aluminium nitride silane-treatment on the mechanical and thermal properties of polybenzoxazine matrix

A new kind of polymer composite, produced from the typical polybenzoxazine and 0–30 wt-% native and silane-treated aluminium nitride (T-AlN), was investigated. The mechanical tests revealed a significant increase in the microhardness and flexural properties upon adding the T-AlN particles compared to that obtained from the untreated ones. By adding 0–30 wt-% T-AlN, the tensile moduli were accurately reproduced by the Halpin-Tsai and Nielsen models. At 30 wt-% T-AlN, dynamic mechanical analysis showed a significant increase in the storage moduli and the glass transition temperature (T_g), reaching 3.2?GPa and 217°C, respectively. The thermal stability of these materials was significantly improved upon the addition of the T-AlN fillers. These improvements are attributed to the high thermal and mechanical properties of the fillers and their good dispersion and adhesion in and to the matrix as revealed by a morphological analysis.