Molecular design of nanometric zinc borate-containing polyimide as a route to flame retardant materials

Zinc borate (Zn2B6O11 center dot 3H(2)O) nanoparticles were successfully prepared by using an emulsion liquid membrane (W/O/W emulsion) to control the size of particles with Na2B4O7 center dot 10H(2)O, boric acid and ZnSO4 center dot 7H(2)O as raw materials. All materials were dispersed with the polyimide (PI) precursor, poly (amic acid). Using a combination of dissolving the poly (amic acid) and mixing fatty acid surfactant-coated zinc borate nanoparticles: we have demonstrated the formation of nanocomposites with uniform nanoparticles dispersion. We report the first deposition of namocomposite polyimides from solution using spin-coating. The microstructures and morphology of the as-obtained samples were studied by Xray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectra (IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.