Preparation and thermal properties of graphene oxide/main chain benzoxazine polymer

Graphene oxide/polybenzoxazine nanocomposites are prepared using main chain benzoxazine polymer (MCBP) via a solvent casting method from different organic solvents. The addition of graphene oxide to the polymeric matrix leads to a gradual decrease in the glass transition temperature of the polymeric matrix. This drop is attributed to the reactive nature of graphene oxide, which undergoes exothermic thermal de-oxygenation before the onset of polybenzoxazine ring opening polymerization upon curing of the nanocomposites. Additionally, it is reported that the glass transition of polybenzoxazine films cast from different solvents depends on the nature of the solvent. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.