Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Science - Department of Biophysics

In recent years, copolymers, blends and composites have attracted the attention of material researchers to obtain intermediate properties with respect to homopolymers according to their importance in different applications. In the present thesis, sol-gel method was used to prepare beta-lead oxide (Ý-PbO) nano-powders, and solution-cast method to prepare thin films of poly(methyl methacrylate)/lead oxide nanoparticles [PMMA/PbO(NPs)] composites. The characterizations of both the prepared PbO nanoparticles [PbO(NPs)] and the composite films were investigated by: X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) techniques as well as thermal analyses (DSC and TGA) and optical parameters. The XRD, HRTEM and SAED data indicated that a mixture of Pb, tetragonal PbO, and orthorhombic PbO was formed with average crystalline size of about 84 nm. The TGA and DSC data indicated that the prepared PbO(NPs) are stable. On other hand, the obtained results of the composite films indicated that: The XRD patterns suggested that the miscibility between the PMMA and PbO(NPs) was possible. The SEM images showed the distributions and dispersions of PbO(NPs) on the surface of the films

Issued also as CD