Effect of epicatechin modified BN on properties of BN@ epicatechin/epoxy resin composites

Epicatechin (EC) was used as a non-covalent modifier to treat BN. The effects of BN@EC with different mass fraction of EC on the properties of BN@EC/epoxy resin (EP) composites were investigated. BN, BN@EC and BN@EC/EP composites were characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM, TG, et al. The results show that EC successfully modifies BN and doesn't affect the crystal structure of BN during the modification process; the dispersibility of BN modified by EC in the resin matrix is improved; the SEM test results show that the degree of agglomeration of BN particles modified by EC is lower than that of the unmodified BN particles. The dispersion of BN@EC in the matrix is better; the stability of the modified BN@EC in water is improved; when the EC mass fraction is 10wt%, the thermal conductivity of BN@EC/EP composite is best, which reaches 1.27 Wm^-1K^-1, which is 106% higher than the thermal conductivity of BN/EP(0.62 Wm^-1K^-1). Finally, the effects of the addition of EC on the thermal stability and hardness of the composites were analyzed. The results show that the addition of EC will slightly improve the thermal stability of the composites.