Strong and transparent PMMA sheet reinforced with amine functionalized BN nanoflakes for UV-shielding application

• Published in: Composites. Part B, Engineering Vol. 176; p. 107274
• Main Authors: Bisht, Ankita, Kumar, Vijayesh, Maity, Palash Chandra, Lahiri, Indranil, Lahiri, Debrupa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-11-2019
• Subjects: BN nanoflakes; Mechanical properties; PMMA; UV shielding; Mechanical properties; BN nanoflakes; PMMA; UV shielding
• ISSN: 1359-8368; 1879-1069
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2019.107274

Polymer composites with suitable reinforcement can offer UV-shielding ability and strength simultaneously. Such material systems are being researched for many commercial applications, including window shields and automobiles. However, the inherent challenge is retaining transparency, while using reinforcement for adequate strength and UV-shielding. In this study, boron-nitride nanoflakes (BN) were reinforced in poly(methyl-methacrylate) (PMMA) to synthesize a strong and transparent sheet for structures for UV-shielding purpose. BN nanoflakes were amine functionalized and added for a range of content (0.1–3 wt%). Uniform dispersion and strong interfacial interaction led to efficient load transfer from matrix to reinforcement, thus increasing strength and modulus by 155% and 148%, respectively, with 2 wt% BN. UV-B and UV-C shielding properties improved as compared to PMMA for all composition. Addition of 0.5 wt% BN to PMMA offered improvement in blocking UV-wavelength by 325%, along with high transparency of ~65% to visible light.
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