Comparison of the nanoparticles performance in the photocatalytic degradation of a styrene–butadiene rubber nanocomposite. Issue 4 (22nd July 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Arantes, Tatiane M.; Sala, Renata L.; Leite, Edson R.; Longo, Elson; Camargo, Emerson R.
• Is Part Of: Journal of applied polymer science. Volume 128:Issue 4(2013:May 15)
• Page Start: 2368
• Page End: 2374
• Publication Date: 2012-07-22
• Subjects: Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; 668.9
• DOI: 10.1002/app.38281
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-8995

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Much has been talking about the advantages of polymeric nanocomposites, but little is known about the influence of nanoparticles on the stability of these materials. In this sense, we studied the influence of both oxides of zirconium and titanium, known to have photocatalytic properties, as well as the influence of synthetic clay Laponite on the photodegradation of styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR). SBR nanocomposites were prepared by the colloidal route by mixing commercial polymer lattices and nanometric anatase TiO₂, monoclinic ZrO₂ or exfoliated Laponite clays colloidal suspensions. To better understand the degradation mechanisms that occur in these nanocomposites, the efficiency of different photocatalysts under ultraviolet radiation was monitored by FT‐IR and UV–vis spectroscopies and by differential scanning calorimetric. It was observed that TiO₂ and ZrO₂ nanoparticles undoubtedly acted as catalysts during the photodegradation process with different efficiencies and rates. However, when compared to pure SBR samples, the polymer degradation mechanism was unaffected. Unlike studies with nanocomposites montmorillonite, exfoliated laponite clay effectively acts as a photostabilizer of polymer UV photodegradation. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013</p> </abstract>