Cyanate Ester Resin/Silica subnanocomposites and their superiority over nanocomposites due to fundamental role of constrained interfacial dynamics

The study of nanostructure, thermal and relaxation properties (by HAADF-STEM, EDXS, DMA and DSC), combined with the calculations of interparticle distances and interfacial areas, has been performed for a series of the hybrid Cyanate Ester Resin (CER)/Si02 polymer composites with 0.01 to 10 wt.% Si02 units introduced via a sol-gel process. The absence of clusterization, arising only subnanometric Si02 nodes and their quasi-regular distribution within the amorphous matrix, with the shortest distances between nodes, provided their exceptional positive impact on the matrix properties at ultra-low Si02 contents of 0.03-0.1 wt.%. The superiority of these subnanocomposites over the nanocomposites was determined by the role of constrained interfacial dynamics over the whole matrix.

Improved Mechanical, Anti-UV Irradiation, and Imparted Luminescence Properties of Cyanate Ester Resin/Unzipped Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes/Europium Nanocomposites

Cyanate ester resin (CER) is an excellent thermal stable polymer. However, its mechanical properties are not appropriate for its application, with brittle weakness, and it has poor functional properties, such as luminescence. This work innovatively combines the luminescence property and the improved mechanical properties with the inherent thermal property of cyanate ester. A novel nanocomposite, CER/uMWCNTs/Eu, with multi-functional properties, has been prepared. The results show that with the addition of 0.1 wt.% of uMWCNTs to the resin, the flexural strength and tensile strength increased 59.3% and 49.3%, respectively. As the curing process of the CER progresses, the injected luminescence signal becomes luminescence behind the visible (FBV). The luminescence intensity of CER/uMWCNTs/Eu was much stronger than that of CER/MWCNTs/Eu, and the luminescence lifetime of CER/MWCNTs/Eu and CER/uMWCNTs/Eu was 8.61 μs and 186.39 μs, respectively. FBV exhibited great potential in the embedment of photon quantum information. Therefore, it can be predicted that CER/uMWCNTs/Eu composites will not only have a wide range of applications in sensing, detection, and other aspects, but will also exhibit great potential in the embedding of photon quantum information.

Mechanical, thermal and ablative behavior of organo nanoclay added carbon fiber/cyanate ester resin composites and effect of heat flux on its ablative performance

Nanoclay added cyanate ester resin (Type I) composites were fabricated by adding different weight percentages (0,1,2,4 & 6 wt%) of organo-modified Montmorillonite (o-MMT) and tested for dispersion by Small angle X-ray scattering(SAXS), thermal stability using Thermogravimetric analyser (TGA) and curing behavior using Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). This data was correlated with the thermomechanical properties of nanoclay added carbon fiber reinforced cyanate ester resin composites (C-CE composites /Type II). Interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), flexural strength of type II composites increased by about17%, 21% respectively at 2 wt% addition of nanoclay although at this loading nanoclay was found to show intercalation.Thermal stability of type II composites got reduced whereas the ablation rate has increased for type II composites with increased loading of nanoclay. However, percentage increase in ablation rate was found to be lower when type II composites were tested at 5000 kWm−2as compared to the ablation testing carried out at 1250 kWm−2. Scanning electron microscopy studies indicates significant melting of nanoclay at high flux resulting in additional protection mechanisms for the composites at high flux. Present study indicates the possibility of using o-MMT nanoclay for improved mechanical properties of C-CE composites used in thermal protection systems (TPS).

APPLICATION OF CYANATE ESTER MATERIALS (review) Part 1. Aviation and space structures

The review concerns the major application of materials based on cyanate ester resins in various branches of technology, indicating examples of implementation in modern devices. This article being the first part of the review highlights the cyanate esters implementation in the development of materials for aviation and space technology. The paper presents the most significant properties of polycyanurates in relation to their application. Information about the development of new cyanate ester resin-based composite materials for aircrafts and space shuttles is provided.