Effect of Surface Modification of TiO2 Nanoparticles on the Properties of UP/TiO2 Nanocomposite

In this study, to improve the nanoparticle dispersion and increasing possible interaction between nanoparticle and polymeric matrix in the UP/TiO2 nanocomposite, the surface of the TiO nanoparticles was modified in the new approach; first the surface of TiO2 nanoparticles was modified by a coupling agent as 3-(methacryloxy) propyl trimethoxy silane and then polymerized in the presence of ethyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate monomers with AIBN as initiator. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of the coupling molecule and consequently copolymer macromolecular chains on the surface of TiO2 nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to study the morphology of the particles before and after the surface grafting. Mechanical properties and ultraviolet visible (UV/Vis) spectroscopy of various samples, including the doubly modified-TiO2 nanoparticles and the unmodified-TiO2 nanoparticles were also investigated. The results showed that surface remodification of TiO2 nanoparticles improve nanoparticles dispersion, mechanical properties and UV protection of the UP/TiO2 nanocomposite.