Synthesis, Characterization, Optical and Thermal Properties of P(NVC-co-BZMA) Copolymer and Its ZnO Composites

Abstract

Recent studies have paid particular attention to polymer-nanoparticle composite materials considering they have a number of interesting properties, which include optical, thermal, electrical, and others (Reyna-Gonzalez et al., 2009; Yakuphanoglu et al., 2010). In this study, a free radical polymerization process was used to create a copolymer of N-vinylcarbazole (NVC) and benzyl methacrylate (BZMA) at 25–75 mol% each. The procedure was conducted at 70°C with azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) acting as the initiator. Nano zinc oxide powders were then added to composites at three different ratios of 5%, 10%, and 15% weight of the copolymer. In order to better understand the structures of the P(NVC-co-BZMA) and its composites, FT-IR, 1H NMR, and UV spectroscopic techniques were also implemented. The optical characteristics of both the pure copolymer and its composites were examined. In the visible region, the composite containing 15% nano ZnO had the highest optical absorbance value. Additionally, the thermal behaviours of the composites and copolymers were analysed.