Mechanical, thermal, and ultraviolet resistance properties of polycarbonate/cerium oxide composites

Abstract

The composites containing polycarbonate (PC) and cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles as well as nanoparticles modified with stearic acid (mCeO2) have been prepared using a melt blending method. The composites are studied by using FTIR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermal gravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy, and their tensile strength and ultraviolet (UV) resistance are examined. The results indicate that the introduction of CeO2 nanoparticles at 1 wt% can improve the mechanical properties of PC, while a weight ratio that is over 1 wt% can lead to a reduction in the tensile strength. Compared with the PC/CeO2 composites, the PC/mCeO2 composites provide better mechanical properties. Besides, the introduction of CeO2 nanoparticles gives PC promising UV resistance. However, different amounts of CeO2 nanoparticles used provide similar thermal and UV resistance in PC. In a comparison of the PC/CeO2 and PC/mCeO2 composites, there are no apparent differences observed between CeO2 and mCeO2 on improving the UV resistance of PC.