UV-curing and mechanical properties of polyester-acrylate nanocomposites films with silane-modified antimony doped tin oxide nanoparticles

Abstract

Antimony doped tin oxide (ATO) nanoparticles were used as nanofillers to improve mechanical properties of UV-cured polyester-acrylate films. To improve the dispersion of ATO nanoparticles in the polyester-acrylate resin matrix and to strengthen interfacial interactions between ATO nanoparticles and the resin matrix ATO nanoparticles were first organically modified with 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS). The modification of ATO nanoparticles with MPS was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). UV-curing behaviors of the nanocomposites films were investigated by FTIR spectroscopy. Compared with the film with neat ATO nanoparticles, the film with the same amount of MPS-modified ATO nanoparticles showed slightly higher UV-curing rate and final conversion. The mechanical properties of the nanocomposites films were measured by universal testing machine. The MPS-modified ATO nanoparticles could improve considerably the mechanical properties of the UV-cured polyester-acrylate nanocomposites films. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.