EVALUATION OF PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF TERNARY POLYMERIC BLENDS

Abstract

Polymers and polymer composites have ruled over the research activities all over the world during the last few decades. Tremendous amount of new material is being added to the existing material. These new materials are replacing the conventional material rapidly. The nanomaterials have even ruled out every other type of material and have found theirapplication in every field of life. The present work is also an attempt to synthesize a nanomaterial with enhanced electrical and thermal properties so that it can be used in electrical and electronic devices.This study deals with the preparation and characterization of polymer blend composites i.e. PMMA/PEO/PVAc/Cu (PMC), PMMA/PEO/PVAc/LiClO4(PML) and PMMA/PEO/PVAc/MWCNT (PMN). Copper nanoparticles were prepared by chemical reduction method. The multi walled carbon nanotubes were functionalized.The composition of the polymer film was fixed and to this was added MWCNT,copper nanoparticles and lithium perchlorate to make different compositions of the blend composites.Various techniques like AC Impedance, Rheology, XRD, SEM and TGA/DTA were used for characterization. All the systems showed decrease in apparent viscosity and complex viscosity while increase in storage modulus. The increase in the LiClO4 content increased the crystallinity of PMMA/PEO/PVAc/LiClO4 blend composites,while decrease in crystallinity was observed for remaining two systems with increase in concentration of CNT and copper nanoparticles. PMMA/PEO/PVAc/Cu (PMC) blend nanocomposites showed highest conductivity and PMMA/PEO/PVAc/CNT (PMN) showed lowest conductivity. Thermal stability decreased for PMMA/PEO/PVAc/LiClO4 (PML) with increase in salt concentration while increase in MWCNT and Copper nanoparticles concentration was responsible for decrease in stability of PMMA/PEO/PVAc/CNT(PMN) and PMMA/PEO/PVAc/Cu (PMC).Onthe basis of degradation temperature, PMC blend nanocomposites showed highest thermal stability. SEM showed homogenity and no phase separation for PMMA/PEO/PVAc/CNTand PMMA/PEO/PVAc/Cu. This indicated positive interaction between the components of the systems. The prepared samples of the blend composites and nanocomposites were also characterized using AFM. The results showed a smooth topography of the prepared materials. The dispersion of the filler material was observed to be uniformly and evenly dispersed within the polymer blend matrix. It was found out that there was a complete compatibility between the polymeric material and the fillers in each blend composites.