Optical and thermomechanical behavior of benzoxazine functionalized ZnO reinforced polybenzoxazine nanocomposites

In the present work, synthesized zinc oxide (ZnO) was functionalized with benzoxazine terminated silane (BS). The obtained functionalized benzoxazine terminated ZnO (BS‐ZnO) was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. In addition to neat polybenzoxazine (PBZ) matrix synthesis, different weight percentages of (1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 wt%) BS‐ZnO was incorporated into PBZ matrix to obtain the BS‐ZnO/PBZ nanocomposites, respectively. The resulted nanocomposites (BS‐ZnO/PBZ) were characterized for their thermal, mechanical, and optical properties. The results indicated that the 10 wt% BS‐ZnO reinforced PBZ matrix showed an improved glass transition temperature, thermal stability than those of neat PBZ matrix. Further, its mechanical and ultraviolet shielding properties were also improved significantly. The results from the X‐ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscope, and high resolution transmission electron microscope, ascertains the presence and homogenous dispersion of functionalized ZnO into PBZ matrix. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:1881–1889, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers