Synthesis and characterization of nanocomposites based on polyimide bearing benzimidazole side groups filled with titania nanoparticles

ABSTRACT

This study reports on the fabrication and property investigation of nanocomposites based on polyimide (PI) containing benzimidazole pendant groups reinforced with titania nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs) via the in-situ thermal imidization approach. This method involves the formation of poly(amic acid) (PAA), as the precursor of PI, by polycondensation of an equimolar amount of dianhydride, pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA), with a benzimidazole-containing diamine monomer, 5-(2-benzimidazole)-1,3-bis(4-aminophenoxy)benzene (BIDA), in dimethylacetamide (DMAc) solvent, followed by embedding various weight percentages (3, 5, and 8 wt%) of amine-functionalized titania nanoparticles (NH₂-TiO₂ NPs) in PAA media, and subsequent thermal imidization to be converted to PI/TiO₂ nanocomposite films. The structural, morphological, and thermal properties of the obtained neat PI and its nanocomposite films were studied by various methods, such as FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The data resulted from TGA analysis indicated that the incorporation of NH₂-TiO₂ NPs into the PI matrix show higher thermal stability when compared to the neat PI. The SEM images revealed that the dispersion of titania NPs was uniformly done in PI matrix, with a particle size of around 42 nm.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Benzimidazole
• Nanocomposites
• Polyimide
• Titania nanoparticles, In-situ polymerization

Acknowledgments

This research has been supported by the Graduate University of Advanced Technology (Kerman-Iran).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Hojjat Toiserkani

Hojjat Toiserkani is an Associate Professor in the Department of Polymer Engineering at the Graduate University of Advanced Technology. His research interests focus on the synthesis and characterization of novel polymeric materials, as well as the development and functionalization of polymer surfaces, with particular expertise in the areas of polymer nanocomposites and bionanocomposites.