Poly(methyl methacrylate)/polycarbonate nanofiber nanocomposites for ballistic protection

POLY 126

Yi Liu, Yi.Liu@sdsmt.edu, Yi Gao, Nyle E. Hedin, and Hao Fong, Hao.Fong@sdsmt.edu. Department of Chemistry, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, 501 East St. Joseph Street, Rapid City, SD 57701
The hybrid systems of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polycarbonate (PC) have been considered as one type of the most promising ballistic protection materials. Earlier research has focused on layered PMMA/PC systems. In this study, we investigated electrospun PC nanofibers reinforced PMMA nanocomposites. PMMA/PC nanofiber nanocomposites were fabricated by (1) dispersing electrrospun PC nanofibers in a cured methyl methacrylate (MMA)/urethane dimethacrylate resin, (2) ball-milling the composites into particles (with diameters less than 75 µm), (3) mixing particles with PMMA/MMA solution, and (4) polymerizing the mixture to make PMMA/PC nanofiber nanocomposites. The resulting PC-nanofiber-containing PMMA/PC nanocomposites were tested by 3-point bending and impact resistance methods. Results showed that by adding up to 1% PC nanofibers into the PMMA matrix, the flexural strength and impact strength increased. However, adding more PC nanofibers caused the flexural strength and impact strength to decrease due to the formation of structural defects.