Preparation methodologies of polymer matrix nanocomposites

Recently, as a result of developments in nano-techniques, there has been a growing interest in the field of nanocomposites, The use of inorganic nanoparticle-filled composites can provide highperformance materials that find applications in several industrial fields. In the present work, preliminary studies concerning the preparation of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)/CaCO(3) nanoparticles composites are reported, The preparation was performed by using an in situ polymerization methodology. In particular, the nanocomposites have been obtained by a modified radical polymerization of the MMA dispersing the nanoparticles directly into the acrylic monomer, Nanocomposites having 2, 3, 4 and 6 wt% of nanoparticles mere prepared. The influence of the nanoparticles on the chemicophysical properties of the polymeric matrix and the mode of dispersion were investigated by performing thermal, mechanical and morphological analyses, Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.