Cyclic Nanoindentation and Nano-scratch Behaviour of CaCO3/PMMA Nanocomposite

Abstract

The calcium carbonate surface modified with γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane was carried out to prepare poly (methyl methacrylate) based composite. The grafting of PMMA increased as the weight ratio between MMA and n-CaCO3 increased, while the grafting efficiency of PMMA decreased. Transmission electron micrograph showed that MPTMS modified n-CaCO3 covered with PMMA was formed by emulsion polymerisation. The scratch resistance of n-CaCO3/PMMA nanocomposites are highly influenced by reinforcement’s type. The effects of n-CaCO3 on dynamic indentation behaviour of the composites were examined by a comparative study of the two methods was carried out under reduced system drift. The cyclic nanoindentation is a faster and prime technique enabling reliable measurement of the depth profile of bulk/nano-mechanical properties of nanocomposites. The tribological behaviour of nanocomposites was estimated and the deformed surfaces during the scratching were examined with atomic force micrographs.