Structural, Optical, Thermal and Non-isothermal Decomposition Behavior of PMMA Nanocomposites

The prepared PMMA/ZnO nanocomposites were examined by various analytical techniques to access their physio-chemical properties. The structural analysis was performed using FTIR and XRD for the prepared ZnO nanoparticles and PMMA nanocomposites. The crystalline nature and phase of the ZnO NPs were identified using XRD. The microstructural analysis was performed for the prepared samples using SEM. The surface topography of the ZnO NPs was evaluated using AFM. The grain size of the ZnO NPs was computed as 42 nm using Scherer’s formula. It was also verified with the TEM micrograph. The optical characteristics of the ZnO NPs and PMMA nanocomposites were studied in depth using a UV–Visible spectrometer. The optical constants such as extinction coefficient, refractive index, dissipation factor, real and imaginary dielectric constants, and optical conductivity were examined for the PMMA nanocomposite films. The thermal stability of the PMMA nanocomposites films was enhanced as compared with pure PMMA. It was found that the decomposition of the polymer samples took place in three steps. The decomposition behavior of the polymer nanocomposites was studied under non-isothermal heating in air atmosphere by using different kinetic models. The improved optical and thermal properties of the PMMA nanocomposites are very useful in the solar energy, optical and photonics domains.