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 nanop article-filled composites can provide highperformance materials that find a pplications in several industrial fields. In the present work, preliminary studies concerning the preparation of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)/CaCO3 n anoparticles composites are reported, The preparation was performed by usin g an in situ polymerization methodology. In particular, the nanocomposites have been obtained by a modified radical polymerization of the MMA dispersi ng the nanoparticles directly into the acrylic monomer, Nanocomposites havi ng 2, 3, 4 and 6 wt% of nanoparticles mere prepared. The influence of the n anoparticles 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.