Thermal studies of silver- poly(methylmethacrylate) nanocomposites

Abstract

The novel nanocomposite material based on surface-modified silver nanoparticles (Np) with average diameter of 6 nm and poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) matrix was synthesized. The effect of silver loading on the thermal properties of PMMA was studied. The obtained transparent nanocomposites Ag/PMMA films were characterized by IR spectroscopy and thermal techniques (TGA, DSC). The chemical composition of the PMMA matrix is not changed in the presence of the metal nanoparticles, but the thermal stability of the nanocomposites was found to be better than thermal stability of the pure polymer. Also, Ag nanoparticles have pronounced effect on a glass transition temperature (Tg) of PMMA.