Optical and kinetics of thermal decomposition of PMMA/ZnO nanocomposites

PMMA/ZnO nanocomposites with different concentrations of nano-ZnO were prepared by in situ polymerization method. The effect of ZnO on the morphology, optical properties and thermal degradation kinetics of PMMA was investigated by means of XRD, TEM, FTIR, TG-DSC, photoluminescence (PL) spectra and UV-visible absorption spectra. The introduction of ZnO into PMMA slightly increases its thermal stability. The PL intensity of PMMA/ZnO nanocomposites increases with increasing the concentration of ZnO in the PMMA. The kinetic parameters were evaluated from TG data by several integral and iso-conversional methods. Based on the iterative iso-conversional calculation procedure, the activation energy values E (it) for the decomposition steps obtained were evaluated. The activation energy values for the thermal degradation of the nanocomposites were higher than that of pure PMMA. The most probable mechanism functions for the degradation of PMMA and its nanocomposite are suggested.