Use of silane coupling agent for surface modification of zinc oxide as inorganic filler and preparation of poly(amide-imide)/zinc oxide nanocomposite containing phenylalanine moieties

A series of novel poly(amide–imide)/ZnO nanocomposites with modified ZnO nanoparticles contents was prepared by ultrasonic irradiation. For this purpose, surface of ZnO nanoparticle was modified with $\boldsymbol\gamma$ -aminopropyltriethoxysilane as a coupling agent. Then the effect of surface modification on dispersion of nanoparticles, thermal stability and UV absorption property of the obtained nanocomposites were investigated. The resulting novel nanocomposites were characterized by several techniques. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy analyses of the nanocomposites were performed in order to study the dispersion of nanofillers in the polymer matrix. According to thermogravimetry analysis results, the addition of ZnO nanoparticles improved thermal stability of the obtained nanocomposites. Since the resulting nanocomposites contain phenylalanine amino acid and ZnO, they are expected to be biocompatible as well as biodegradable.