High temperature phthalonitrile nanocomposites with silicon based nanoparticles of different nature and surface modification: Structure, dynamics, properties

A series of phthalonitrile nanocomposites, obtained from bisphenol A based bisphthalonitrile (BAPhN) with 0.5 wt.% of different reactive amino- or epoxy-functionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) nanoparticles or montmorillonite (MMT) nanolayers, were synthesized and studied in detail. Their structure, dynamics and properties were characterized by TEM, mid-IR, far-IR and EDX spectroscopies, DSC, and by DMA and TGA measurements performed in air and N2 atmosphere at temperatures from 200 to 600–700 °C. Predominance of phthalocyanine macrocycles in the nodes of the matrix network is suggested; a satisfactory dispersion and a quasi-regular distribution of POSS nanoparticles have been revealed. For post-cured nanocomposites, DMA demonstrated an anomalous (“quasi-phase”) glass transition, dynamic heterogeneity in this transition, and “constrained dynamics” effects. Tg (DMA) was found to vary from 4600 to 560°С. After a high-temperature treatment in N2 atmosphere, disappearance of relaxation spectrum and glass transition as well as the constancy of the nanocomposite modulus E’≈ 3.2 GPa at 20–600°С were observed. A relatively satisfactory thermal stability of the nanocomposites was registered at temperatures up to ∼500 °C in air and 700 °C in N2. [Display omitted] •Phthalonitrile nanocomposites with different nanoparticles and their functionalizations were studied.•Key role of phthalocyanine macrocycles in the matrix structure was proved.•Quasi-regular distribution of POSS nanoparticles in the amorphous matrix was revealed.•Highly-cooperative, “quasi-phase” glass transition with Tg (DMA) up to 560°С was observed.•Heating nanocomposite in N2 atmosphere resulted in its constant modulus value at 20–600 °C.