Low-temperature synthesis of boron carbide nanofibers via electrospinning to reinforce composites

Abstract

This study is to obtain low-temperature boron carbide fibers from the polymer–precursor mixture. The fibers produced by the electrospinning method from a mixture of boric acid (H3BO3) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetric method to create calcination programs. After calcinations, fiber structure was examined by SEM, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. According to the characterization results, the thinnest fiber belongs to 0.50% by weight H3BO3–PVP proportional solution. Subsequently, these fibers were modified with the compound [3-(Methacryloxy) propyl] trimethoxysilane to form strong cross-links in the composite. Then, the organic matrix formed by the mixture of bisphenol-A glycidyl methacrylate, diurethane dimethacrylate, triethylene glycol dimethacrylate, benzoyl peroxide and modified fibers was reinforced in different proportions. In this way, 3-point bending tests were performed on fiber-reinforced and particle-reinforced composites, and the results were compared on mechanical strength values.