Thermo-mechanical properties of thermoplastic polymer-nanofiller composites

E. Ritzhaupt-Kleissla (b) J. Haußelta (b), T. Hanemanna (b)
a Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Institut f. Materialforschung III, D-76021 Karlsruhe, Germany
b Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Institut f. Mikrosystemtechnik (IMTEK), D-79110 Freiburg, Germany

Abstract

The influence of spherical ceramic nanoparticles as fillers in thermoplastics has been observed by several groups. It is expected to improve material properties of thermoplastics, e.g. hardness, glass transition temperature and thermal expansion coefficient, by incorporating nanosized ceramic particles into the polymer matrix. Nevertheless present literature does not give uniform statements.

In the current work a process chain for homogeneously dispersing inorganic nanosized particles as well as chromophoric dopants into a polymer matrix was developed. Plexit 55, a commercially available reactive resin based on PMMA diluted with MMA was used as polymer matrix. Different methods of dispersing the fillers were applied. Using either a high speed stirrer or a high pressure homogeniser, solid loads of inorganic fillers up to 10 wt% and organic filler contents up to 20 wt% were achieved. Dispersions were polymerised using a UV-photo moulding setup. Test specimens of thermoplastic nanofiller composites were replicated using plastic injection moulding. Resulting parts were investigated with regard to the influence of inorganic and organic fillers on materials’ glass transition temperature, molecular weight, rheological behaviour and thermal expansion coefficient.