The thermal degradation of Poly(methyl methacrylate)/silicon carbide nanocomposites

Abstract

The thermal stability of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and silicon carbide (SiC) composites was studied by thermogravimetry. The influence of particle size, SiC structural modification and particle specific surface was analyzed. It was established that particle size had the greatest influence on PMMA/SiC thermal stability and that the most stable composites were those with the smallest particle diameter, i.e the largest particle specific surface. The values of the thermal degradation activation energy indicated that in some cases particle deagglomeration probably did occur which enabled polymer-filler nanoscale interaction and indicated that the system PMMA/SiC could form nanocomposites.

Keywords

• poly(methyl methacrylate)
• SiC
• nanocomposite
• thermogravimetry