Structural characterization and thermal degradation of poly(methylmethacrylate)/zinc oxide nanocomposites

Abstract

This work is based on the preparation of composites of poly(methylmethacrylate) with zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized by solution casting method.

Chloroform cast poly(methylmethacrylate) films containing different amounts of ZnO nanoparticles were characterized by XRD, SEM, UV-vis spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy and TGA.

The results show that ZnO nanoparticles with a size of 24 nm were fairly dispersed in the polymer matrix. The obtained material had UV shielding capability with optical transparency. Thermal characterization shows that, the nanocomposites were more thermally stable than pure PMMA presenting three degradation steps. Apparent kinetic parameters were determined for each degradation step using peak fitting methodology. According to activation energies, ZnO particles affect simultaneously but oppositely the kinetics of underlying degradation reactions. Thermal stability of the PMMA/ZnO nanocomposites was the result of the overall balance in favor of the inhibiting effect of ZnO.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• ZnO nanoparticles
• polymer nanocomposites
• PMMA
• TGA
• degradation kinetics
• activation energy

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the financial support of CNEPRU project N° E00720140050. MALM thanks the support from the MINECO project MAT2016-81138-R. The authors appreciate the assistance of ICTP/SCIC technical staff.

Additional information

Funding

The authors acknowledge the financial support of CNEPRU project N° E00720140050. MALM thanks the support from the MINECO project MAT2016-81138-R. The authors appreciate the assistance of ICTP/SCIC technical staff