Preparation of UPVC/ SAN/Ag-TiO2 nanocomposite by casting method and characterization of its physical and mechanical properties

In this study, UPVC (Unplasticized polyvinyl Chloride) and SAN (Styrene Acrylonitrile) were mixed in the absence and presence of silver and titanium dioxide nanoparticals to prepare UPVC/SAN and UPVC/SAN/Ag-TiO2 blends by solution casting method. The results of FTIR confirmed the blending and compatibility of the mentioned polymers.The mechanical properties of the prepared blends in different weight percentages were studied. Results showed the increasing of the parameters of the tension strength (maximum 25.9% in respect to UPVC), young's modulus (maximum 21.5% in respect to SAN), and breaking length (maximum 75% in respect to UPVC) of blends with respect to pure polymers. Also, the addition of 0.2%wt of silver and titanium dioxide nanoparticals to UPVC-SAN blends caused a decrease in the parameters of young's modulus (maximum 53%), the tension strength (maximum 70%), and an increase in breaking length (maximum 300%) with respect to the blends. In addition, TGA technique confirmed that the addition of nanoparticles improve the thermal stability of blend. Also, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique was used to characterize the morphology of the prepared nanocomposite film.