Synthesis and characterization of silica nanocomposite in situ photopolymerization

This study was carried out on nanocomposites consisting of nanometer silica fillers embedded in thermoset polymers that were prepared via the in situ polymerization of ultraviolet (UV) curable systems containing different contents of nanometer silicas by irradiation of UV light. Because of the introduction of nanosilicas, the curing rates of the UV curing of dispersing systems were played down; that is, the curing times were prolonged, but the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites, such as tensile strength and Young's modulus, increased, and the thermo-stability of the nanocomposites at temperatures lower than 400 K improved. The dispersing states of nanometer silicas within the polymer matrix were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, and the results show that the nanometer silicas had good homogeneously dispersing states within nanocomposites containing less than 3 wt % nanometer silicas. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.