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Poly(Vinyl Chloride) Nanocomposites Prepared in the Suspension Polymerization Process. Part II. PVC Filled with Silica Nanofiller




Author(s)

Agnieszka Abramowicz, Maria Obloj-Muzaj and Maria Zielecka

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DOI:10.17265/2161-6221/2014.08.002

Industrial Chemistry Research Institute, 8 Rydygiera Street, 01-793 Warsaw, Poland

Silica/PVC nanocomposites were prepared by VCM suspension polymerization in the presence of nanosilica (0.2-2.0 wt.% /VCM). Unmodified nanosilica prepared by sol-gel method was used. The process of VCM polymerization in the nanofiller presence was carried out without disturbances. SEM and TEM analyses confirmed the presence of nanofiller both on the surface and in cross-sections of PVC grains. The filler distribution in polymer grains was uniform. TEM observations showed that nanosilica content in amount  2.0% led to formation of crystalline phase. The base properties of PVC nanocomposites differed from neat PVC. An improvement in mechanical properties of PVC/nanosilica composites in comparison with commercial PVC has been found. The use of the nanofiller in an amount equal to 1.0 wt.%/VCM resulted in the largest increase in tensile strength with simultaneous highest elongation at break. An addition of 0.5 wt.% of nanosilica improved impact strength of polymer nearly 40% in comparison with neat PVC.

VCM suspension polymerization, poly(vinyl chloride), nanosilica, nanocomposites, physicochemical properties.