Synthesis, characterization and properties of polyimide nanocomposite thin films reinforced with TiO2/Al2O3 hybrid nanoparticles

Highly flexible PI (polyimide) nanocomposite thin films were successfully synthesized incorporating surface functionalized TiO2/Al2O3 hybrid nanoparticles. The as-prepared composite films were characterized by different techniques. The FTIR spectra revealed that the Al2O3/TiO2 hybrid nanoparticles showed characteristic peaks of the individual fillers in a single spectrum. Amino groups grafted on the surface of the hybrid nanoparticles were also confirmed by FTIR. PI composites with 2 wt% TiO2/Al2O3 hybrid nanoparticles showed an increment of T5 (temperature of 5% weight loss) by about 37.2 ℃ compared to the neat PI films. The T10 (temperature of 10% weight loss) of PI composites with 2 wt% TiO2/Al2O3 hybrid nanoparticles was also increased by approximately 36.1 ℃ compared to the neat PI films. The PI composite films with TiO2/Al2O3 hybrid nanoparticles showed an increment of Tg by about 93.1 °C compared to the neat PI films. The tensile strength and tensile modulus of PI nanocomposite films incorporating TiO2/Al2O3 hybrid nanoparticles was improved by approximately 157.2% and 113.7%, respectively compared to the neat PI films.