Synthesis and properties of PMMA‐ZrO₂ organic–inorganic hybrid films

Abstract

In this work we report the synthesis process and properties of PMMA-ZrO 2 organic-inorganic hybrid films. The hybrid films were deposited by a modified sol-gel process using zirconium propoxide (ZP) as the inorganic (zirconia) source, methyl methacrylate (MMA) as the organic source, and 3-trimetoxy-silyl-propyl-methacrylate (TMSPM) as the coupling agent between organic and inorganic phases. The films were deposited by dip coating on glass slide substrates from a hybrid precursor solution containing the three precursors with molar ratio 1 : 0.25 : 0.25 for ZP, TMSPM, and MMA, respectively. After deposition, the hybrid thin films were heat-treated at 1008C for 24 h. The macroscopic characteristics of the hybrid films such as high homogeneity and high optical transparence evidenced the formation of a cross-linked, interpenetrated organic-inorganic network. The deposited PMMA-ZrO 2 hybrid films were homogeneous, highly transparent and very well adhered to substrates. Fourier Transform Infra-Red measurements of the hybrid films display absorption bands of chemical groups associated with both PMMA and ZrO 2 phases. The amounts of organic and inorganic phases in the hybrid films were determined from thermogravimetric measurements. The surface morphology and homogeneity of the hybrid films at microscopic level were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy images. From the analysis of optical transmission and reflection spectra, the optical constants (refraction index and extinction coefficient) of the hybrid films were determined, employing a physical model to simulate the hybrid optical layers. The refraction index of the hybrid films at 532 nm was 1.56.

Sol–Gel PMMA–ZrO2Hybrid Layers as Gate Dielectric for Low-Temperature ZnO-Based Thin-Film Transistors

“…This is because the coupling agent added to the hybrid network contains an acrylic group, which has a larger mass than that of the silicate one. 17 The same trend with the TMSPM content was reported for the PMMA–SiO 2 hybrid system. 18…”

“…These bind with the Zr–OH groups of the inorganic precursor, forming Si–O–Zr groups and then Zr–O–Zr ones. 17…”

“…This is because pure PMMA completely decomposes at 385–400 °C, as reported in the literature. 17 In the 600–1100 °C temperature range, there is no more weight loss because the remaining solvents and organic phase have been completely removed and only the inorganic phase remains. The remainder material is constituted by the inorganic components: ZrO 2 from the inorganic source and SiO 2 from the coupling agent component.…”

Contact lens, high refractive index, abbe number, hybrid materials, fabrication, enhancement

“…An organic polymer PMMA has synthesized with zirconium oxide nanocrystal by Otsuka and Chujo (2010) to get polymerized material PMMA/ ZrO 2 of above 95% visible light transmittance and increment in RI to 1.534 when applying 38.8 wt.% ZrO 2 content. Hybrid PMMA-ZrO 2 obtained by sol-gel deposition method resulted highly transparencỹ 90% and 1.57 RI at 532 nm (Alvarado-beltran et al, 2015). (Zhao et al, 2018) In 2014, PVA-TiO 2 and PMMA-TiO 2 nanocomposites exhibited light transmittance between 80 and 90%, they were prepared by Sugumaran and Bellan (2014) and realized good optical merits of (1.6 and 2.3) RI.…”

Investigation of thermal and mechanical properties of styrene–butadiene rubber nanocomposites filled with SiO2–polystyrene core–shell nanoparticles

“…Several core–shell nanoparticles have been prepared (poly(MMA–MAA)-grafted ZnO, 20 ZrO 2 /PMMA, 21 SiO 2 /PMMA 22 SiO 2 /poly(3-aminophenyl boronic acid) 23 and SiO 2 /PS 24 ) using microemulsion polymerization technique and tested as filler in polymers. Polypropylene and HIPS nanocomposites filled with CaCO 3 @PMMA core–shell nanoparticles show significant enhancement in thermal and mechanical properties as compared to pristine polypropylene.…”