首页|The shape effect: Influence of ID and 2D boron nitride nanostructures on the radiation shielding, thermal, and damping properties of high-temperature epoxy composites

The shape effect: Influence of ID and 2D boron nitride nanostructures on the radiation shielding, thermal, and damping properties of high-temperature epoxy composites

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  • NETL
  • NSTL
  • Elsevier
In space exploration, lightweight multifunctional materials capable of shielding neutron radiation, dissipating heat, and providing damping are essential. Polymer composites reinforced with boron nitride (BN) nano-materials-specifically one-dimensional boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) and two-dimensional boron nitride nanoplatelets (BNNPs)-offer promising solutions. This study investigates how BN nanomaterial morphology influences the performance of high-temperature (HT) epoxy composites. We developed ultralightweight, three-dimensional BN foams comprising ID BNNTs, 2D BNNPs, and hybrid ID BNNT/2D BNNP structures via freeze-drying, then infiltrated them with HT epoxy to form dense composites. The BNNT foam exhibited the highest neutron radiation shielding, with a mass absorption coefficient of 26.64 cm~2 g~(-1), outperforming the hybrid foam (18.18 cm~2 g~(-1)) and the BNNP foam (11.12 cm~2 g~(-1)). A similar trend was observed in the HT epoxy composites; incorporating these foams at least doubled the mass absorption coefficient compared to the neat polymer. In terms of thermal conductivity, the BNNT/BNNP foam-epoxy composite achieved the highest value of 0.34 W m~(-1) K~(-1), a 2.13-fold increase over neat HT epoxy. The BNNT/BNNP foam-epoxy composites also improved by 1.88 and 1.75 times, respectively. Mechanical testing revealed that BNNP foams withstood the highest loads during nanoindentation (3.53 kN), followed by BNNT/BNNP foams (1.93 kN) and BNNT foams (1.56 kN). All BN foam-epoxy composites exhibited enhanced damping properties, with tan 8 increasing by at least 30 % compared to neat HT epoxy. These findings elucidate the impact of BN nanomaterial morphology on the multifunctional performance of HT epoxy composites, offering insights for developing high-performance, tailorable materials for demanding environments.

Boron nitride nanotubesBoron nitride nanoplateletsNeutron radiation shieldingThermal managementMechanical reinforcementFreeze-drying

Kazue Orikasa、Luiza Benedetti、Sang-Hyon Chu、Tyler Dolmetsch、Alberto Jimenez、Denny John、Teagan Smith、Tony Thomas、Benjamin Boesl、Cheol Park、Arvind Agarwal

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Mechanical and Materials Engineering Department, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33174, USA

Advanced Materials and Processing Branch, NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA, 23681, USA

Materials Science and Engineering Area, ESCET, Rey Juan Carlos University, C/Tulipan S/n, 28933, Mostoles, Madrid, Spain

Biomedical Engineering Department, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA

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2025

10.1016/j.compscitech.2024.110995

Composites science and technology

Composites science and technology

SCI
ISSN：0266-3538
年,卷(期)：2025.261(Mar.1)
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