Prominent Nucleating Effect of Finely Dispersed Hydroxyl-Functional Hexagonal Boron Nitride on Biodegradable Poly(butylene succinate)

Abstract

Hydroxyl-functional hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets (OH-BNNSs) were prepared successfully by ultrasonic treatment, and then homogeneous dispersions of OH-BNNSs in 1,4-butanediol (BDO) were obtained. Various techniques were applied to characterize the OH-BNNSs and their hydroxyl functional groupd. Furthermore, biodegradable poly(butylene succinate) (PBS)/OH-BNNS nanocomposites were prepared by in situ polymerization of succinate acid (SA) and BDO containing well-dispersed OH-BNNS. The nucleating effect of low OH-BNNS loadings on PBS in the PBS/OH-BNNS nanocomposites was investigated. It is found that OH-BNNSs significantly improve the melt-crystallization temperature and degree of crystallinity of PBS during the nonisothermal crystallization process without changing the crystal structure of PBS. Moreover, the Avrami exponent n calculated for isothermal crystallization increased from 2 to 3 after the addition of 0.05 wt % OH-BNNSs. The nucleation density of PBS spherulites in the nanocomposites increased dramatically. These results demonstrate that OH-BNNSs function as an outstanding nucleating agent of PBS.

Correlating the morphology of poly(L-lactide)/poly(butylene succinate)/graphene oxide blends nanocomposites with their crystallization behavior

“…As such, the proposed preparation method enhances the relatively mild nucleating efficiency of GO to the level of the best known nucleants for poly(butylene succinate), when used at comparable concentration. [60][61][62].…”

Polymorphic Behavior and Enzymatic Degradation of Poly(butylene adipate) in the Presence of Hexagonal Boron Nitride Nanosheets

“…27−32 Furthermore, a distinct nucleation ability of hydroxyl-functional hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets (OH-BNNSs) on the poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) has been reported in our latest research in detail. 33 Because of their tremendous surface area, BNNSs may also act as a nucleating agent and polymorphic and degradation controller of PBA.…”

Hydroxylation of a metal-supported hexagonal boron nitride monolayer by oxygen induced water dissociation

“…Moreover, hydroxylation of h-BN nanosheets has been recently realized by oxygen radical functionalization with subsequent hydrolytic defunctionalization, 19 air-plasma 20 and ultrasonic treatments. 21 Grafted hydroxyl groups can drastically change the surface chemistry of h-BN and the resulting hydroxyl functionalized BN nanosheets are expected to be employed as mechanical enhancement elements in polymer nanocomposites 19 or superhydrophilic surface coating. 20 Water dissociation on metal oxide and the subsequent formation of hydroxyl groups on surfaces are extensively studied and confirmed by experimental and theoretical studies, [22][23][24][25][26] which can also be considered as a valuable route to conduct surface hydroxylation in a green manner with less pollution of the environment.…”