Effect of Silica-Coated Poly(butyl methacrylate)-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) Double-Shell Particles on the Mechanical Properties of PMMA Composites

Abstract

Silica nanoparticles with an average diameter of 12 nm are grafted with PBMA-b-PMMA double shells through typical sequential ATRP from bromoisobutyrate initiators anchored at the silica surface using an epoxysilane. A commercially available PMMA homopolymer is used for the preparation of composites with unmodified, silane-modified and double-shell-modified silica particles. Good mechanical properties are obtained for silica double shell containing systems. The silica content in double shell particle systems is varied from 0 to 2.5 wt%. A significant improvement in impact properties is observed. The surface-modified silica particles are characterized by ATR-FTIR, NMR, GPC, and thermal analyses. TEM analysis is used to analyze the nature of dispersion of particles in the composites.