Effect of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on polymer network formation

This work presents a study of the effect of nanoparticles on polymer composites to develop a powerful polymer dispersed liquid crystal materials. Tri propylene glycol diarcrylate/titanium dioxide nanocomposites were produced at various titanium dioxide fractions ranging between 0 and 1 wt%, through ultraviolet curing technique during 30 min. Different technics such as polarized optical microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermal gravimetric analysis were used to characterize the samples. A dynamic swelling of polymer network was also investigated. The evolution of the acrylic double-bond conversion shows a decrease in the absorption intensity at 1637 cm−1. It is noted that the conversion rate decreases from 0.1 to 1 wt% of titanium dioxide nanoparticles. An increase in glass transition temperature is observed by differential scanning calorimetry. The thermogravimetric analysis results reveal a highly improved thermal stability upon the additi...