Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Poly(Propylene Carbonate) - Zinc Oxide Nanocomposites

Abstract

A series of nanocomposites composed of poly(propylene carbonate)(PPC) and ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized and characterized. Initially, (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane was used to introduce epoxide groups onto the ZnO surface. Subsequently, the modified ZnO NPs were incorporated in PPC matrices by ring-opening copolymerization of epoxide groups on the surface of ZnO NPs and propylene oxide with carbon dioxide. The structures of the modified ZnO NPs and nanocomposites were confirmed by fourier transformed infrared spectrometry analysis. The morphology of the nanocomposites was investigated by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, where ZnO NPs were well dispersed in the polymer matrix. The thermogravimetric analysis study showed that the nanocomposites exhibited remarkable increasing in thermal property compared to the neat polymer.

Keywords:

• Poly(propylene carbonate)
• zinc oxide
• carbon dioxide
• thermal property
• biodegradable polymer

Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the Joint Program of Cooperation in Science and Technology through NRF grant funded by the MEST (No. 2011-0025680).