Sawdust reinforced polybenzoxazine composites: Thermal and structural properties

In this study, <i>Mangifera Indica</i> tree sawdust reinforced bisphenol-A aniline based benzoxazine composites were prepared by varying the sawdust from 20 wt% to 45 wt%. Thermogravimetric analysis of composites revealed excellent compatibility between polybenzoxazine and sawdust from the remarkable growth in char yield from 22% (neat resin) to 36% (for highly filled) and glass transition temperature from 151 to 165&#176;C. Ultimate weight loss of the composites evaluated from the Derivatives of TG plots. Limiting oxygen index values of the composites reported considerable growth i.e., from 28 to 32 along with the increase in filler content. Differential scanning calorimetry results showed that sawdust particles have an insignificant effect on curing temperature (219&#176;C) for the raise in sawdust content. Structure of the sawdust, benzoxazine monomer, polybenzoxazine and composites were studied using Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy. Overall, polybenzoxazine composites with sawdust as filler showed improved thermal properties when compared with pure polybenzoxazine.