The Mechanical Properties of Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) (PMMA)/ZrO2 Nanocomposite Polymer Films

Abstract

The composite films of Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) with ZrO2 at different weight percentage have been used for measurement of Mechanical properties such as stress, strain, and Young’s modulus at room temperature using the Universal Testing Machine. The value of stress is increased linearly with strain up to the stress at break and afterwards shown discontinuity. The properties of stress and strain increased as weight percentage of ZrO2 increased with PMMA and at 60 weight percent the stress in increased linearly up to 2.18 MPa with strain. The tensile strength, load at break and stress at break of the composite film of PMMA with ZrO2 is increased as weight percentage increased. Further, the weight loss and melting temperature of the composite films for pristine and for irradiation by electron beam at dose rate of 100 kGy were measured using Thermo Gravimetric Analysis and Differential Scanning Calorimeter. The weight loss of the composite film after electron irradiation is higher than that of its pristine. It is observed from DSC that melting peak is occurred at temperature 397.52 °C for pristine and at 395.94 °C after electron irradiation. Hence change in melting temperature is found to be 1.58 °C. The prepared composite films are characterized by using FTIR over the range of 3500– 500 wavenumbers (cm−1).