Effect of the chemical nature of metal oxide on adhesion to the polyacrylate matrix in filled nanocomposites

The morphology, particle size, and thermochemical properties of the surface of oxides Al₂O₃, NiO, TiO₂, ZnO, and ZrO₂ obtained by the wire electroexplosion method were studied. The nanoparticles are spherical, with a mean diameter of 54–86 nm depending on the nature of the oxide. The hydrophilicity of the surface of metal oxide nanopowders was found to change in the series NiO-ZrO₂-TiO₂-ZnO-Al₂O₃. Nanocomposites with widely varied compositions were obtained from butyl methacrylate copolymer with 5 wt % methacrylic acid and the oxides under study. The enthalpies of dissolution of the composites in chloroform were determined by Calvet calorimetry. The enthalpies of copolymer mixing with oxides were calculated using the thermochemical cycle. The limiting enthalpies of copolymer adhesion to the oxide surface were calculated from the thermochemical data. The limiting adhesion enthalpy was shown to be negative for all oxides under study; these values decreased in magnitude as the surface hydrophilicity increased. The results were analyzed from the viewpoint of balance between the specific and dispersion interactions at the interface.