Enhanced mechanical properties of melamine-functionalized boron nitride nanosheets reinforced with epoxy nanocomposites for dental applications

Non-covalently functionalized boron nitride nanoplatelets (BNNPs) were mixed with the epoxy resin and fabricated into nanocomposites. The BNNPs were non-covalently functionalized with melamine to enhance dispersion and matrix interfacial bond strength with the matrix. Melamine-functionalized BNNPs (M-BNNPs) were simultaneously synthesized and functionalized via modified mechanical exfoliation process. The mechanical properties of M-BNNP-reinforced epoxy (M-BNNP/epoxy) nanocomposites included marked strengthening effects (84.3% in terms of Young’s modulus, 29.1% in terms of universal test strength, and 134% in terms of fracture toughness) after adding only 2 wt% M-BNNPs to the epoxy matrix. The experimental Young’s modulus were compared to those of the Halpin–Tsai model. Our materials exhibited much great fracture toughness than commercial dental resins, suggesting that the M-BNN/epoxy resins may find dental applications.