Publication

Abstract : This paper focuses on fabricating polymer nanocomposites for the energy storage applications with Poly Methyl Methacrylate as matrix. A series of PMMA nanocomposites with varying contents of nanofillers, multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT), titanium dioxide (TiO2) and their hybrids were fabricated. Melt mixing of PMMA and nano filler in an internal mixer was followed by compression moulding of test specimens. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) was employed to study the effect of nanofillers on of glass transition temperature. Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) data, validated the wider range of service temperatures of nanocomposites. The data from derivative Thermogravimetric Analysis was used to deduce the one step degradation of PMMA and its nanocomposites and evaluate the kinetics of thermal decomposition using Coats-Redfern method. The nanocomposites possessed improved dielectric properties relevant to charge storage application. The properties of hybrid composites were found to be superior. The observed properties were correlated to the morphology of the nanocomposites.