NOVEL ZIRCONIA NANOPARTICLE ENHANCING PERFORMANCE OF POLYMER MATRICES THROUGH NANOSCALE FILTERS

Abstract

We were able to cover up the nano-concave-convex structure of the zirconia nanoparticle assembly by thermally treating a smooth surface and impregnating it with polymer, which is typical of the assembly's natural porous structure and large surface area. Mechanical strain tests revealed that a 0.2 percent zirconia and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) nanoparticle assembly with the innate micro surface structure was the strongest polymer composite. To the contrary, mechanical tensile testing revealed lower strength and increased elongation at break in assemblies of sintered zirconia nanoparticles with zirconia nanoparticles and smooth surfaces with polymer obscuring the surface.