Effect of Surface Functionalized Nano-ZnO Structure on Morphology and Properties of Poly(amide-imide) Nanocomposites Containing N-trimellitylimido-L-leucine and 5-(2-benzimidazole)-1,3-phenylenediamine

Abstract

The authors report the construction of the nanostructure chiral poly(amide-imide) (PAI) with flexible chiral unit in the backbone and benzimidazole pendant group, from an optically active synthesized N-trimellitylimido-L-leucine (V), and 5-(2-benzimidazole)-1,3-phenylenediamine (IV) via direct polycondensation in tetrabuthylammonium bromide as a green media. Then, hybrid organic-inorganic nano-ZnO/PAI composites were prepared with different amount of modified ZnO nanoparticles via ultrasonic process. The surface of nano-ZnO was modified with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane due to the homogeneous distribution of ZnO in polymer matrix. The properties, including thermal properties, morphological study and spectroscopy analysis of the nanocomposites were investigated.

Keywords:

• nano-ZnO
• nanocomposite
• thermally stable PAI
• silane coupling agent
• ultrasonic process

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to express their gratitude to the Research Affairs Division Isfahan University of Technology (IUT), Isfahan, for partial financial support. Further financial support from Iran Nanotechnology Initiative Council (INIC), National Elite Foundation (NEF), and Center of Excellency in Sensors and Green Chemistry Research (IUT) is gratefully acknowledged.