Analysis of Aluminum Oxides Submicron Particle Agglomeration in Polymethyl Methacrylate Composites

Agglomeration of distributed particles is the main problem in polymer composites reinforced with such particles. It leads to a decrease in mechanical performance and its poor reproducibility. Thus, development of methods to address the agglomeration of particles is relevant. Evaluation of the size and concentration of agglomerates is required to select a method to address agglomeration. The paper analyzes aluminum oxide particles agglomeration in particles-reinforced polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) composites. Quantitative parameters of polystyrene-coated aluminum oxide particles agglomerates are obtained for the first time in this article. Unlike uncoated aluminum oxide particles, when coated aluminum oxide particles are used, agglomerates concentration in polymer composites decreases approx. 10 times. It demonstrates that modification of submicron particles by a polymer coating decreases the number of agglomerates in the polymer composite. The use of transmittance and opacity values to estimate particles agglomerates is reasonable in this article. It is shown that the difference in optical performance of specimens reinforced with coated and the original particles is related to the number and average size of agglomerates in the specimens. For example, when the concentration exceeds 0.2%, transmittance values for the specimens reinforced with coated particles are greater than the ones for the specimens reinforced with the original particles.