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AuthorSibeko, M. A.
AuthorSaladino, M. L.
AuthorArmetta, F.
AuthorSpinella, A.
AuthorLuyt, A. S.
Available date2022-04-17T09:47:34Z
Publication Date2019
Publication NameEmergent Materials
ResourceScopus
Identifierhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s42247-019-00057-1
URIhttp://hdl.handle.net/10576/29906
AbstractThe preparation method of a polymer composite and the filler loading are amongst the factors that influence the properties of the final composites. This article studies the effect of these factors on the thermal stability and thermal degradation kinetics of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/mesoporous silica (MCM-41) composites filled with small amounts of MCM-41. The PMMA/MCM-41 composites were prepared through in situ polymerisation and melt mixing methods, with MCM-41 loadings of 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 wt.%. The presence of MCM-41 increased the thermal stability of PMMA/MCM-41 composites prepared by melt mixing, but in the case of the in situ polymerised samples, the MCM-41 accelerated the degradation of the polymer. As a result, the activation energy was low and less energy was required to initiate and propagate the degradation process of these composites. The small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements showed that the preparation method of the composites had no influence on the pore size of MCM-41, but the PMMAs used in the two methods both had shorter chains than the MCM-41 pore size. This allowed the polymer chains to be trapped inside the pores of the filler and be immobilised, as was observed from nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The immobilisation of the polymer chains was more significant in the in situ polymerised samples.
SponsorOpen Access funding provided by the Qatar National Library. The National Research Foundation of South Africa provided the bursary funding which enabled the student to do the research presented in this paper. The publication of this article was funded by the Qatar National Library.
Languageen
PublisherSpringer Nature
Subject13C {1H} CP-MAS-NMR
In situ polymerisation
Melt mixing
Mesoporous silica (MCM-41)
Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)
Thermal degradation kinetics
TitleEffect of preparation method on the properties of poly(methyl methacrylate)/mesoporous silica composites
TypeArticle
Pagination363-370
Issue Number3
Volume Number2
dc.accessType Abstract Only


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