Abstract
The polymers with special properties represent the starting point in order to obtain a wide range of new materials used in various fields of activity. Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), a transparent thermoplastic material, is an attractive polymer because of it’s unique properties, in comparison with other polymers, such as: high mechanical strength, special optic properties, and durability. The incorporation of silicate layers (for example, clay, minerals) in the polymer microstructure in order to improve the mechanical, thermal and interface properties has become one of the interesting of the researchers nowadays. Thus, depending on the working conditions and the interactions between the clay layers and the polymer system, a series of composites with different morphology, for instance, agglomerated, intercalated and exfoliated, has become accessible. In order to promote solutions for improving PMMA properties and to have a better general view on the action of oxide nanoparticles, we chose to analyze the structure and mechanical properties of some methacrylic composites with TiO2, Al2O3, and PMMA fillers. Keywords: nanocomposites, mechanical properties, poly(methyl methacrylate), SEM