Synthesis and characterization of N-(2-acetyl benzofuran-3-yl) methacryl amide and ethyl methacrylate copolymer/graphite oxide composites and study of their kinetic and electrical properties

Abstract

Copolymers of N-(2-acetylbenzofuran-3-yl) methacrylamide (BFMAA) and ethyl methacrylate (EMA) were prepared by radical copolymerization. The composition of copolymers was estimated by H-1-NMR spectroscopy. The composites of P(BFMAA39-co-EMA) [COP1] and P(BFMAA15-co-EMA) [COP2] loaded 18 wt% graphite oxide (GO) were prepared utilizing Ultrasonic Homogenizer Sonicator Processor. The FT-IR, DSC, TGA and SEM techniques were used in the characterization of the copolymers and composites. The thermal degradation behavior of COP1 was investigated by FT-IR studies of the partially degraded copolymer. And, this copolymer was able to form a four-member amide ring and imidization via intramolecular while being heated above 340 degrees C. Dynamic TG analysis under argon gas was used to investigate the thermal decomposition processes of pure COP1 and COP1/GO. Two degradation models including the Flynn-Wall-Ozawa and Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose methods were used to determine the apparent activation energy of the copolymer and its composite for approximately 65% of thermal decomposition occurred between 200 and 400 degrees C. The results also showed that average activation energy between 111.69 and 134.25 kJ/mol was obtained. The estimated activation energy values make it possible to build a simpler approach to expose the thermal decomposition behavior of copolymer and its composite. Dielectric and electrical behaviors of the copolymer composites having a semiconductor behavior filled with graphite oxide (GO) were investigated. The activation energy values of P(BFMAA15%-co-EMA)[COP2]/GO 18 wt% and COP1/GO 18wt% from dc conductivities were 0.182 eV and 0.245 eV, respectively.