Preparation and properties of mesoporous silica/bismaleimide/diallylbisphenol composites with improved thermal stability, mechanical and dielectric properties

Corona Resistance Mechanism of Nano-Modified Polyimide

In this paper, the effect of field strength on the corona-resistant lifespan of a composite film and the effect of doping on the dielectric properties of the composite film were studied. The method for predicting corona-resistant lifespan under working electric field strength is discussed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to characterize the morphology and the structure of the composite film near the breakdown point after corona formation. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was used to characterize the imidiated film, and a conductivity current test was used to calculate the electrical aging threshold of the film. The results showed that the introduction of nano-SiO₂ particles could greatly improve the corona-resistant lifespan of the material. At 155 °C, when the applied external electric field strength was extrapolated to 20 kV/mm, the corona-resistant lifespan of the PI/nano-SiO₂ three-layer composite film with 10 wt% nano-particle doping was 7472.61 h.

Steady-State Conduction Current Performance for Multilayer Polyimide/SiO2 Films

The steady-state electrical conduction current for single and multilayer polyimide (PI) nanocomposite films was observed at the low and high electric field for different temperatures. Experimental data were fitted to conduction models to investigate the dominant conduction mechanism in these films. In most films, space charge limited current (SCLC) and Poole–Frenkel current displayed dominant conduction. At a high electric field, the ohmic conduction was replaced by current–voltage dependency. Higher conduction current was observed for nanocomposite films at a lower temperature, but it declined at a higher temperature. PI nanocomposite multilayer films showed a huge reduction in the conduction current at higher electric fields and temperatures. The conclusions derived in this study would provide the empirical basis and early breakdown phenomenon explanation when performing dielectric strength and partial discharge measurements of PI-based nanocomposite insulation systems of electric motors.

A study of co-reaction mechanism and properties of propenyl-substituted monomer/bismaleimide system

A practical modifier, 4,4′-bis[2-(1-propenyl)phenoxy]benzophenone (MT), has been synthesized and copolymerized with 4,4′-bismaleimidodiphenylmethyene (4,4′-BMI) to yield a low-temperature cure bismaleimide resin. Structural information of MT was obtained using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance (proton and carbon) spectroscopy, elemental, and mass spectrometry analyses. The differential scanning calorimetric curve of the MT/4,4′-BMI system shows two exothermic peaks at 164°C and 210°C, respectively. This value was compared with other polymerization reactions involving diallyl bisphenol A (DP) and diallyl bismaleimide (DBMI), with an exothermic peak at around 257°C. Unlike normal bismaleimide resins with DP postcured at 250°C for about 4–8 h, the MT/4,4′-BMI resin was cured at 230°C for a total of 6 h (i.e. MBMI-230) or at 200°C for 6 h (i.e. MBMI-200). Furthermore, the resins exhibit high thermal resistance, excellent mechanical properties, and exceptionally low dielectric loss. For MBMI-230 and MBMI-200, the dielectric loss values are all in the range of 0.0024–0.0054 from 7 GHz to 18 GHz and feature excellent thermal stabilities (5% weight loss temperature ( Td5) > 415°C under nitrogen atmosphere) and thermo-oxidative stabilities ( Td5 > 425°C in air atmosphere). Additionally, the cured resins also display a high bending modulus (>3.2 GPa) at room temperature and an excellent mechanical stability at high temperature.

The effect of bismaleimide on thermal, mechanical, and dielectric properties of allyl-functional bisphthalonitrile/bismaleimide system

Allyl-functional phthalonitrile (DBPA-Ph) and bismaleimide (BMI) have been considered as advanced composite-matrix resins applied in various fields. In this work, self-promoted polymerization behavior and processability of DBPA-Ph/BMI system were investigated in detail. To further reveal the effect of BMI on the properties of DBPA-Ph/BMI system, the blends and the prepolymers of DBPA-Ph/BMI were prepared in different proportions. Their curing and rheological behaviors were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic rheological analysis. The results further confirmed the possible reaction mechanisms and demonstrated that DBPA-Ph/BMI prepolymers exhibited good processability, which included wide processing window (approximately 75°C), low melting viscosity (<0.2 Pa·s), and better reactivity. The copolymers exhibited satisfactory thermal stabilities ( T5% > 421°C, char yield at 600°C >70%). Moreover, the DBPA-Ph/BMI/glass fiber composite laminates were prepared and the effect of the curing temperature and BMI content on mechanical properties and dielectric properties were also investigated. The results show that the composite laminates exhibit favorable mechanical properties and weak frequency dependence of dielectric properties over a wide frequency range. Above all, the research on DBPA-Ph/BMI system could expand its applications in industry, especially in the areas, which require high temperature resistance and excellent mechanical and dielectric properties.

Optimization and preparation of an allyl phenoxy-modified bismaleimide resin

A thermosetting resin system has been developed by the copolymerization of allyl phenoxy, bismaleimide (BMI), and diallyl bisphenol A and optimized using response surface methodology. An optimized modified resin system with enhanced properties was achieved based on empirical second-order models expressing the relationship between the modifier contents and the mechanical properties. Dicumyl peroxide (DCP) was selected as initiator to further improve the curing behavior and mechanical properties of the optimized resin system. The effect of initiator contents on impact, flexural strength, and heat distortion temperature was also investigated. The curing behavior, morphology, and thermal stability of the optimized resin were carefully characterized using differential scanning calorimeter, scanning electron microscope, and thermogravimetric and dynamic mechanical analyzers, respectively. For evaluating the efficiency of modified BMI resin system, laminated composites using glass fiber cloth were fabricated using a hot press and tested for mechanical properties. The results showed that the DCP reduced the curing temperature significantly, improved the curing process, and proved to be very effective in heat resistance. Meanwhile, the laminated composite with initiator showed 13–27% higher mechanical properties and 5–7% higher retention rate at high temperature when compared with the neat resin composite system. The optimized resin system with higher mechanical properties, good heat resistance, and better manufacturability can be used as matrix resin for making advanced fiber-reinforced composites.

Mechanical properties of polymer composites reinforced by functionalized graphene prepared via direct exfoliation of graphite flakes in styrene

By incorporating FGs into PS matrix appropriately, the obtained PS/FGs exhibit dramatic enhancement in mechanical properties.