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Synthesis and characterization of exfoliated polystyrene grafted hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets and their potential application in heat transfer nanofluids

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Abstract

Three different methods were used to develop surface-modified hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) nanosheets, and polystyrene grafting was performed by an indirect covalent bond formation between modified h-BN nanosheets and styrene molecules through surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) approach. In all methods, an alkyl bromide as the ATRP-initiating site was first introduced on h-BN nanosheets and an SI-ATRP reaction of styrene from the initiator immobilized h-BN surface was achieved. The structure of synthesized PS grafted h-BN nanosheets (PS-g-h-BN) was identified and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy methods. The functionalization promoted the exfoliation of h-BN layered structure into few layer sheets where the thickness of the sheets was dependent on the modification technique and the content of polymer grafted on nanosheets. The highest grafting content of PS-g-h-BN nanosheets was obtained around 20% which could enhance thermal conductivity of mineral oil-based nanofluids with the minimum concentration of the nanofiller (0.01 wt%). The electrical and physical properties of the nanofluid were also investigated. According to the results, the dielectric loss reduced by increase in nanofiller concentration was an indication of the enhanced dielectric nature of nanofluid. In addition, exfoliated PS-g-h-BN nanosheets dispersions were shown to be stable in mineral oil up to 2 months and this stability was linked to the presence of polymer chains followed by the formation of van der Walls interactions between the grafted polymer and the fluid.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Imam Khomeini International University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Imam Khomeini International University, P.O. Box: 34148-96818, Qazvin, Iran

    Mehdi Salehirad & Mir Mohammad Alavi Nikje

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  1. Mehdi Salehirad
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  2. Mir Mohammad Alavi Nikje
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Correspondence to Mir Mohammad Alavi Nikje.

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Salehirad, M., Nikje, M.M.A. Synthesis and characterization of exfoliated polystyrene grafted hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets and their potential application in heat transfer nanofluids. Iran Polym J 26, 467–480 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13726-017-0535-z

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