Effect of surface-modified Al2O3 on the thermomechanical properties of polybutylene succinate/Al2O3 composites

This study investigates the effect of the incorporation of alumina particles on the thermomechanical properties of polybutylene succinate (PBS)/Al2O3 composites. The alumina surface was modified with the carboxylic groups of maleic acid through simple acid-base and in situ polymerization reactions. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) results revealed the introduction of maleic acid treated alumina significantly affect the morphology of the PBS/Al2O3 composites as compared to the neat PBS. The thermal conductivity of the composite (0.411 W m−1 K−1) was more than twice that of neat PBS. The composite containing polymerization-modified alumina showed a 50% increase in storage modulus compared with that of neat PBS. In addition, universal testing machine (UTM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements indicated an increase in the tensile strength and degree of crystallinity after the incorporation of modified alumina in the PBS/Al2O3 composite.