Elaboration of SiO2-PMMA-Nanoparticles of ZnO/Tio2, hybrid coatings

Abstract

SiO2-PMMA-Nanoparticles of ZnO/TiO2, organic–inorganic hybrid coatings was performed of a cross-linked polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) and silica was prepared via the sol–gel route using tetraethoxy-silane (TEOS) as precursor. 3-(Trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate (TMSPM) was used to make compatible the organic and inorganic components of the precursor solution mixture. The hybrid coatings were deposited using precursor solutions with the reactants molar ratio 1:0.25 for TEOS: TMSPM, respectively, and using 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1 of MMA molar ratio. Nanoparticles of 0.005 % molar ratio of ZnO/TiO2 were embedded. Hybrid coatings were studied by UV/Visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and thermogravimetrical analysis (TGA). The hardness of the coatings was determined from a pencil hardness test referred to ASTM Standard D 3363-92. The AFM results showed that the hybrid coatings have a roughness of about pair of nanometers and consist of a homogeneous cross-linked organic–inorganic matrix with embedded nanoparticles of ZnO/TiO2 very well dispersed. The hardness of the hybrid coatings was enhanced with respect to that of the pure organic component.