Preparation of ZnO nanoparticles modified with silane coupling-agents to fabricate anti-UV Poly(vinyl chloride) films

The uses of inorganic metal oxide as ultraviolet (UV) absorbers have potential to increase the production of UV protection and can also overcome the disadvantages of organic molecules. In this article, we report an effective technique to fabricating polyvinyl chloride (PVC) films with well UV shielding efficiency. Surface modification of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) with different silane coupling-agents were achieved, and through solution casting technique dispersed within the PVC matrix. Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and UV spectrophotometer were applied to study the structures, dispersions, and optical properties. The results showed that the functionalized ZnO NPs could be well dispersed in PVC and endow the polymer composite films with significantly improved anti-UV capability. The facile processing and obtained properties of PVC composites have shown potential for low cost and environmentally sustainable applications in the UV protection field.