Thermo-mechanical performance of PVC/ZnO nanocomposites

ABSTRACT

The present paper deals with the study of thermo-mechanical performance of PVC/ZnO nanocomposites. The samples have been prepared by solution casting technique with different (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8) wt. % of ZnO nanoparticles in poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) matrix and structurally characterized through scanning electron microscopy. In thermo-mechanical analysis, dynamic mechanical analyzer gives the information about storage modulus and phase transition temperature (T_g). From these viscosities, profile at elevated temperature and activation energy of phase transition can be evaluated. This study reveals that dispersion of nano-ZnO significantly altered the thermo-mechanical properties of neat PVC but the effect is composition-dependent.

KEYWORDS:

• Dynamic mechanical analyzer
• thermo-mechanical properties
• phase transition temperature
• PVC/ZnO nanocomposite

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.