An Investigation on Transparency and Mechano-Acoustic Properties of Poly Methyl Methacrylate/Polycarbonate Based Nanocomposites Publisher



Naderzadeh M¹ ; Ghasemi I² ; Monazzam MR³ ; Arabalibeik H⁴ Show Affiliations
Source: Journal of Polymers and the Environment Published:2018

Abstract

The main goal of this paper was to investigate transparency and mechano-acoustic properties of poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA)/polycarbonate (PC) based nanocomposites, reinforced with silica (SiO2), zinc dioxide (ZnO), and titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles. For this purpose, morphological, transparency, acoustical and mechanical tests were carried out on the specimens, prepared by melt-compounding method in a twin-screw extruder. The morphological test results confirmed uniform dispersion of the nanoparticles in the polymer matrix. The results also revealed that transparency of the PC and PMMA nanocomposites, characterized by the degree of light transmittance, was decreased by adding 0.3 wt% of the nanoparticles. Also, tensile modulus of the nanocomposite specimens was higher than that of neat PC and PMMA. Unlike the neat PC specimens, tensile strength showed a decrease in PMMA specimens. The presence of nanoparticles in the composites decreased mobility of polymer chains and consequently, reduced elongation at break in the specimens. After surface roughening process, noise absorption coefficient in PC/PMMA nanocomposite specimens (PCSI3-R, PMSI3-R, and PMZN3-R) showed a higher absorption coefficient than the other specimens in the dominant frequency of traffic noise (500 Hz). As conclusion, roughening the surface of materials would be one of the most important factors enhancing the absorption coefficient of some of the nanocomposites in the middle frequency. The rough surface of particles in the base matrix increases the absorption coefficient of the materials, especially in the frequency of 500 Hz, as the dominant frequency of noise traffic. The suggested materials are predestinated to be appropriate in building industry, particularly in the structure of noise barriers. © 2017, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.