Transparent nanocellular PMMA: Characterization and modeling of the optical properties

In this work, the optical properties of transparent nanocellular polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) have been studied, experimental and theoretically. Transmittance measurements of samples presenting different cell sizes (14, 24, 39 and 225 nm) and a constant relative density of around 0.45 have been car...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polymer (Guilford) 2019-04, Vol.170, p.16-23
Main Authors: Martín-de León, Judith, Pura, Jose Luis, Bernardo, Victoria, Rodríguez-Pérez, Miguel Ángel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Absorptivity
Cell size
Dependence
Electromagnetic absorption
Model accuracy
Modelling
Nanocellular polymer
Optical properties
Polymethyl methacrylate
Polymethylmethacrylate
Rayleigh scattering
Transmittance
Transparent
Wavelength
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Summary:In this work, the optical properties of transparent nanocellular polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) have been studied, experimental and theoretically. Transmittance measurements of samples presenting different cell sizes (14, 24, 39 and 225 nm) and a constant relative density of around 0.45 have been carried out obtaining values as high as 0.94 for the sample with the smaller cell size and a thickness of 0.05 mm. In addition, the light absorption coefficient has been measured as a function of cell size and wavelength. It has been found that the transmittance has a strong dependence with the wavelength, presenting these transparent materials Rayleigh scattering. On the other hand, the transmission of visible light through these nanocellular materials has been modelled for the first time. The developed model reproduces with good accuracy the trends observed in the experimental results and provides remarkable insights into the physics mechanisms controlling the optical behavior of these materials. [Display omitted] •Transmittance to visible light of transparent nanocellular polymethylmethacrylate was measured.•Samples with a cell size 14 nm and a relative density of 0.46 can present transmittances as high as 0.94.•A theoretical model predicting the transmittance to visible light of nanocellular polymers has been developed.•Rayleigh scattering is main mechanisms of light transmission in transparent nanocellular polymethylmethacrylate.
ISSN:0032-3861
1873-2291
DOI:10.1016/j.polymer.2019.03.010