SilicaePMMA nanocomposites with different silica quantities were prepared by a melt compounding\ud method. The effect of silica amount, in the range 1e5 wt.%, on the morphology, mechanical properties\ud and thermal degradation kinetics of PMMA was investigated by means of transmission electron\ud microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermogravimetric\ud analyses (TGA), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), 13C cross-polarization magic-angle\ud spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (13C{1H} CP-MAS NMR) and measures of proton spinlattice\ud relaxation time in the rotating frame (T1r(H)), in the laboratory frame (T1(H)) and cross-polarization\ud times (TCH). Results showed that silica nanoparticles are well dispersed in the polymeric matrix\ud whose structure remains amorphous. The degradation of the polymer occurs at higher temperature in\ud the presence of silica because of the interaction between the two components

A Ce:YAG-poly(methyl methacrylate) composite was prepared using in situ polymerization by embedding the Ce:YAG nanopowder in a blend of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and 2-methacrylic acid (MAA) monomers and activating the photopolymerization using a radical initiator. The obtained nanocomposite was yellow and transparent. Its characterization was performed using transmission electron microscopy, small angle X-ray scattering, (13)C cross-polarization magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Results showed that Ce:YAG nanoparticles are well dispersed in the polymeric matrix whose structure is organized in a lamellar shape. The luminescence properties of the nanocomposite do not show quenching or a significant spectral shift, indicating that the nanocomposite can be useful for advanced applications such as white LED construction.

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