Tensile Strength of PMMA/n-ZrSiO₄ Composites Using Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA)

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the tensile strength and strain properties of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/nano-zircon (n-ZrSiO4) composites with various nano-zircon sizes. Wet milling method for 5 and 15 h without annealing treatment was used to obtain the nano-zircon powders. Results showed that milling for 15 hours can reduce zircon size up to 93 nm. Meanwhile, the composites were synthesized with zircon compositions of 1, 2.5, and 5 wt.%. Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA) measurement were carried out to characterize the tensile-strain dependence on filler compositions of the PMMA/n-ZrSiO4 composites. The PMMA/n-ZrSiO4 composite with 5 wt.% and 15h milling zircon exhibited the highest tensile strength, ca. 10.02 MPa or 2 times of the pure PMMA. The tensile strength of the composites can be explained from the mean size and size distribution of the filler.