TRANSMITTANCE AND MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF PMMA-FUMED SILICA COMPOSITES

The transmittance, flexure strength, Young's modulus, and Vickers hardness of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), filled with fumed silica, was measured. Transmittance decreased with increasing content of filler. At 2 vol % filler content, composites had a higher transmittance with a lower surface area of fumed silica (larger primary particle size) because the lower surface area filler was better dispersed. At 4 vol % filler content, composites had a higher transmittance with a higher surface area fumed silica (smaller primary particle size). Flexure strength and Young's modulus of the composites was measured using three point bending. Addition of fumed silica led to a decrease of strength. Also, addition of fumed silica led to an increase of Young's modulus and Vickers hardness.