Synthesis, structural characterization, and thermalproperties of the poly (methylmethacrylate) / 𝛿 FeOOH hybrid material : an experimental and theoretical study.

Abstract

The 𝛿-FeOOH/PMMA nanocomposites with 0.5 and 2.5 wt.% of 𝛿-FeOOH were prepared by grafting 3 (trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate on the surface of the iron oxyhydroxide particles.TheFTIR spectra of the 𝛿-FeOOH/PMMA nanocomposites showed that the silanemonomers were covalently attached to the 𝛿 FeOOHparticles. Because of the strong interaction between the PMMA and 𝛿-FeOOH nanoparticles, the thermal stability of the 𝛿-FeOOH/PMMA nanocomposites was improved compared to the pure PMMA.The SEM analysis conferred the size agglomerate of particles regarding the morphology of samples.The theoretical study enabled a better understanding of the interaction of the polymer with the iron oxyhydroxide.The DFT-based calculations reinforce the radical trapping mechanism of stabilization of nanocomposites; that is, Fe3+ species might be able to accept electrons coming from the organic phase that decomposes via radical unzipping.The radical scavenge effect delays the weight loss of polymer.