EFFECT OF MACROMOLECULAR COUPLING AGENT PMMA-b-PVTES ON STABILIZING NANO-Si3N4

Abstract

Poly(methyl methacrylate)-b-poly(vinyltriethoxysilane) (PMMA-b-PVTES) are synthesized using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and used as macromolecular coupling agents to modify silicon nitride nanoparticles (nano- Si 3 N 4). The chemical composition of copolymers PMMA-b-PVTES and modified nano- Si 3 N 4 are confirmed by various characterization techniques. The modified nano- Si 3 N 4 shows excellent hydrophobic nature, which make nanoparticles (NPs) stably disperse in organic solvent. Transmission electron microscope (TEM), particle size testing, contact angle measuring and sedimentation experiment are employed to examine the dispersion of modified nano- Si 3 N 4 in chloroform. By comparing the effects of copolymers with varied number-average molecular weight (Mn) and block length ratio on stabilizing nano- Si 3 N 4, we discussed the mechanism of macromolecular coupling agent stabilizing NPs. In our experiments, the copolymer PMMA88-b-PVTES17 is found to be the most effective macromolecular coupling agent for stabilizing nano- Si 3 N 4.