Thermo-mechanical performance of PVC/ZnO nanocomposites

Abstract

The present paper deals with the study of thermo-mechanical performance of PVC/ZnO nanocomposites. The samples have been prepared by solution casting technique with different (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8) wt. % of ZnO nanoparticles in poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) matrix and structurally characterized through scanning electron microscopy. In thermo-mechanical analysis, dynamic mechanical analyzer gives the information about storage modulus and phase transition temperature (Tg). From these viscosities, profile at elevated temperature and activation energy of phase transition can be evaluated. This study reveals that dispersion of nano-ZnO significantly altered the thermo-mechanical properties of neat PVC but the effect is composition-dependent.