Strong, tough, transparent and highly heat-resistant acrylic glass based on nanodiamond

Strong, tough, transparent, and highly heat-resistant nanocomposites made of nanodiamond (ND) and poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were prepared via a simple water-based process. In addition, their structure and properties were investigated. The ND was dispersed in PMMA, and the high optical transparency of the acrylic glass polymer persisted. The nanocomposites exhibited a remarkable increase in mechanical and thermal properties at low ND contents. Young?s modulus, tensile strength, and toughness were substantially increased by the incorporation of ND. In particular, the toughness increased by 47% for the nanocomposite with 1% w/w ND loading. The thermal degradation temperature and glass transition temperature of the nanocomposite with 1% w/w ND loading were also 8 ?C and 30 ?C higher than those of PMMA, respectively. Young?s moduli and the thermal conductivities of the nanocomposites were discussed using the Halpin?Tsai and Maxwell theoretical models, respectively; both exceeded the theoretical values, demonstrating that the excellent properties of ND were successfully imparted to the nanocomposites.

Automated summary

Strong, tough, transparent, and highly heat-resistant nanocomposites made of nanodiamond (ND) and poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were prepared via a simple water-based process. The nanocomposites exhibited a remarkable increase in mechanical and thermal properties at low ND contents, with an improvement in Young's modulus, tensile strength, and toughness. The incorporation of ND also led to higher thermal degradation temperature and glass transition temperature, exceeding the theoretical values and demonstrating the successful impartation of excellent properties of ND to the nanocomposites.