Abstract
The nanosized ZnO particles were prepared and filled into bisphenol A polycarbonate by melt blending process. The thermal property and processing stability as well as the optical performance of the nanocomposites were investigated. The results indicated that the thermal degradation was accelerated by adding nanosized ZnO into the polycarbonate, the processing stability and performance of the material became deteriorated during the melt blending process and its eventual usage. A strategy was developed to overcome this shortage: the nanosized ZnO was covered by an inert amorphous SiO2 shell to protect the polymer chains from direct contact with the active surface of ZnO. Both the thermal stability and processing stability of the polymer nanocomposites were improved after adding the encapsulated ZnO particles. Besides, the transparency of the nanocomposites was also improved by adjusting the component ratio of the core–shell particle according to a refractive index law without losing the UV shielding efficiency.
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