Polymer Bulletin, Vol.56, No.4-5, 413-426, 2006
Structure and thermal properties of titanium dioxide-polyacrylate nanocomposites
UV curable, transparent acrylic resin/titania organic-inorganic hybrid films were prepared by controlled hydrolysis of titanium tetrabutoxide (TTB) in Span85/Tweeen80 reverse micelles and subsequent in situ photopolymerization of acrylic monomers. The qualitative content of TiOTi group and TiOH was monitored by FTIR spectrum, and the thermal stability and film surface were characterized by TGA, DSC and AFM, respectively. TGA data show that TiO2-hybrid films can upgrade the decomposition onset temperature and the temperature at which there is a maximum mass loss rate (T-max). DSC data show that prolonged exposure to UV light and post-thermal treatment can decrease the T-onset and T-peak of the exothermal peak and the condensation temperature between TiOH, and increase Delta H of the exothermal peak. FTIR spectra show the presence of two nu s(COO-) modes with the nu a-nu s splitting magnitude (Delta nu similar to 87 cm(-1) and 148 cm(-1), respectively), suggesting that acrylic acid acts as a bidentate coordination mode and therefore chemical linkages exist between inorganic and organic phases. AFM phase images showed the presence of inorganic domains, with mean size of 21.6 nm-28.8 nm, were uniformly dispersed in the polymeric networks.