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2, 2009
247
Conducting nanocomposites of poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and antimony doped tin oxide (ATO)
were prepared by solution blending. The influences of ATO content on the electrical conductivity, thermal
stability, and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were investigated. A homogeneous dispersion
of silane coupling agent modified ATO was achieved in PMMA matrix as evidenced by scanning electron
microscopy. The resultant PMMA/silane-ATO nanocomposites were electrically conductive with significant
conductivity enhancement at 4 wt pct. It was found that the composition at 4 wt pct ATO gave the higher
tensile strength. Furthermore, it gave the largest elongation at break value among all the compositions.
Thermal stability of the nanocomposites was remarkably enhanced by the incorporation of silane-ATO.
KEY WORDS: Antimony doped tin oxide; PMMA; Nanocomposites; Structure and properties
1. Introduction
Polymers can be compounded with a variety of
common and special fillers, reinforcements, and modifiers to yield specific properties in a wide range of
applications[1,2] . Among these, additives that are
electrically and thermally conductive can provide protection against static accumulation, electrostatic discharge and molding cycle reduction. Various fillers,
some of metallic, are used to improve the conductive properties of the neat polymer. However, high
concentrations of filler (e.g. 30% carbon black), can
take a toll on physical and esthetical properties of the
polymer: selection of conductive material has often
involved compromises[3,4] . The preparation of polymer composites by dispersion of small loadings of
nanosized fillers in a polymeric matrix has lately attracted much attention in the academia and the industry for its potential in improving the performance of
macromolecular materials. Nanoparticles may make
the matrix0 s physical-mechanical properties much improved with respect to traditional micro-sized fillers,
due mainly to maximization of the polymer-filler interfacial region[57] .
Particularly interesting conductive filler is antimony doped tin oxide (ATO) as it possesses good
electrical conductivity with optical transparency[810] .
When used as antistatic agent, ATO shows better performance than currently used carbon blacks, metallic pigment and organic polymer binders[11] . ATO
has been used to increase the electrical conductivity
of polyvinyl acetate-acrylate copolymer coatings[12] ,
gelatine and acrylate films[13] , and urethane and polyester coatings[14] . For different matrices, the minimum amount of ATO to obtain the aimed increase in
conductivity varied roughly from 5 to 20 vol. pct.
PMMA is an important commercial plastic, which
has extensive application in many sectors such as
in aircraft glazing, signs, lighting, architecture,
transportation and merchandising. However, the
low conductivity, less than 1014 S/cm and the
Corresponding author. Assoc. Prof., Ph.D.;
E-mail address: panwei@zzti.edu.cn (W. Pan).
248
Fig. 1 SEM micrographs of freeze fractured surfaces of PMMA/ATO nanocomposites: (a) 4 wt pct untreatedATO, (b) 4 wt pct silane-ATO, (c) 8 wt pct untreated-ATO, (d) 8 wt pct silane-ATO
249
-6
10
-10
10
60
2.0
50
1.5
Elongation to break / %
-1
cm
Conductivity / S
2.5
70
-2
10
40
PMMA/untreated-ATO
PMMA/silane-ATO
1.0
0
10
15
20
-14
10
10
15
Silane-ATO content / %
20
Content of ATO / %
20
Weight / %
PMMA
ATO
8 wt pct ATO
12 wt pct ATO
4 wt pct
60
30
40
417 C
o
100
200
300
Temp. /
50
40
60
20
ATO
20
20
40
10
Derivativa / % min
80
100
60
/ deg.
400
o
500
600
250
100
0
1
-
60
20
40
40
20
0
Derivativa / % min
Weight / %
80
392 C
o
100
200
300
Temp. /
400
o
500
600
decomposition temperature of the system, which usually coincides with the peak of the derivative curves.
It is observed that the thermal decomposition temperature of PMMA/ATO is around 417 C, whereas
that of pure PMMA is only 392 C. This clearly
demonstrates that the PMMA/silane-ATO system is
thermally more stable than the corresponding neat
PMMA system. The existence of inorganic materials
in polymer matrix, generally, enhances the thermal
stability of the composite[20] . The thermal stability
also increases due to the presence of the inorganic
phase and its interaction with the polymer.
4. Conclusion
PMMA/silane-ATO and PMMA/ATO composites
and the morphology were prepared by solution blending. Electrical properties and mechanical properties
of the composites and the morphology were characterized by SEM, XRD and TGA. The results showed
that the silane coupling agent onto the ATO surface
improved the dispersion of ATO in PMMA along with
much enhanced electrical property of composites compared to those containing ATO without treated. It
was found that the 4 wt pct silane-ATO sample gave
the highest tensile strength and elongation at break