The impact of morphology control on the microhardness of PMMA/Boehmite hybrid nanoparticles prepared via facile aqueous one-pot process

Abstract

A method to acquire polymethyl methacrylate/Boehmite hybrid nanoparticles with well-controlled morphology synthesized directly from their relevant precursors (methyl methacrylate and aluminum nitrate) via an aqueous one-pot process is proposed which considerably shorten the number of steps and render substantial commercial benefits. Silane coupling agent was applied to yield a better compatibility between the organic-inorganic counterparts that confirmed by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra with the chemical bond of Si–O–Al as the main link between organic and inorganic moieties. Thermal stability, morphology study, and microhardness of (polymethyl methacrylate/Boehmite) nanohybrids were also evaluated using thermogravimetric analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and Vickers hardness experiments. Field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis confirmed the formation of polymethyl methacrylate/Boehmite nanostructure with an excellent dispersion of inorganic particles in an organic matrix with high uniformity. The uniform particles including different morphologies (cauliflower, semispherical, and bean–like particles) obtained by adjusting pH, surfactant, and sequence of precursor addition. Under acidic pH 4 and basic pH 8, the cauliflower and semispherical particles were made while bean-like particles obtained when polymethyl methacrylate particles formed after boehmite. The presence of boehmite improved the thermal stability and microhardness of hybrid. The microhardness of hybrid increased more than 44% with increasing just 5% boehmite.