Preparation of PMMA/SiO2 Composite Sheets for Tribological and Mechanical Tests

This paper aims to prepare PMMA sheets (Polymethyl methacrylate sheets) reinforced with SiO2 nanoparticles (Silicon oxide nanoparticles) to obtain samples for tribological and mechanical tests. PMMA reinforced sheets are prepared by three methods; dissolving, pressing, and casting. In the first method, the pure PMMA granules were dissolved with an organic solvent. The SiO2 nanoparticles were dispersed using a magnetic stirrer. Then, the solution was poured into a glassy mold. In the second method, pure PMMA powder was used, and SiO2 nanoparticles were dispersed using a nanoparticle disperser device; then, the mixture was placed in a metal mold and pressed by a thermo-hydraulic press. While in the third method, pure PMMA resin and hardener were used, and SiO2 nanoparticles were dispersed using an ultrasonic probe machine, and then the mixture was poured into a glassy mold. The three preparation results showed that the obtained sheets were free of bubbles and that their surfaces were of excellent smoothness and could be cut using a laser to obtain the samples required for tribological and mechanical tests such as tensile test, impact test, wear test, surface hardness test, surface roughness test, and scratch resistance test and others.