STUDY OF POLY (VINYL BUTYRAL)/SILICA NANOCOMPOSITE MATERIALS

Poly (vinyl butyral)/ Silica nanocomposite materials in which the content of nanosized silica is varied from 2 wt% to 16 wt% were prepared by a co-mixing process. The microstructure, morphology and optical properties of the composites were studied by UV-VIS, FT-IR, SEM and XRD. The results showed that the silica forms nanometer microphase with the diameter from about 30 nm to 50 nm and disperses in the poly (vinyl butyral) matrix. It is found that ultraviolet rays from 290 nm to 400 nm can be effectively absorbed and shielded by the transparent resin membrane made from the PVB/SiO₂ nanocomposites. The mechanical properties of the composites were also investigated, and the results were obtained in the elongation at break that is 18 % and 148 % for PVB materials and PVB/SiO₂ nanocomposites, respectively. Meanwhile,the current technique is characterized by many advantages, such as simple, low cost, easy to be controlled and broader applicability.