High Refractive Index Thermoplastic Nanocomposites Using Triazine-Based Surface Modifying Agent

Abstract

High refractive index, colorless and transparent thermoplastic nanocomposites were successfully prepared from polythiocyanurate and ZrO₂ nanoparticles using triazine-based surface modifying agent (TSMA). TSMA was designed to consist of triazine units, sulfur atoms and p-xylylene moieties and synthesized to control molecular weights of 3,000-5,000. The nanocomposites with sufficient compression moldability showed homogeneous dispersion of ZrO₂ nanoparticles. The films of nanocomposites fabricated by compression molding exhibited high refractive index up to 1.8 and high total light transmittance of 84% and haze value of less than 2.0% in visible region. The high refractive index nanocomposites are promising candidates as advanced materials for optical applications that require high moldability such as aspherical camera lenses for smartphones.