Thermo-mechanical behavior of nanostructure polyacrylic polymer based on Al2O3 and bentonite nanoparticles

Abstract

Polymer-nanocomposites are being used for numerous applications, ranging from car bumpers to advanced optoelectronic devices. Understanding the impact of nano-fillers on the composite mechanical properties is critical to the success of all of these applications. This work focuses on the influence of inorganic spheres-particles such as Al2O3 and platelets, such as Bentonite clay, on the thermo-mechanical properties of the acrylic polymer. The nanocomposites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis, uniaxial tension, nanoindentation and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Films drawn from the latex exhibited excellent optical transparency and no evidence of aggregation was detected by SEM and X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The analysis of the thermal and mechanical properties in the presence of nanoparticles platelets (Bentonite), showed an increase in the glass transition temperature (Tg), decomposition temperatures (Tdec), the Young’s modulus and their hardness. On the other hand, in the presence of spherical nanoparticles (Al2O3), the thermal (Tg and Tdec) and mechanical properties decrease, due to the morphology, dimension (e.g., aspect ratio) and degree of dispersion of the nanofillers in the polymer matrix.