Effect of CeO2-Fe2O3 coated SiO2 nanoparticles on the thermal stability and UV resistance of polyurethane films

In this study, CeO2-Fe2O3 coated SiO2 nanoparticles were prepared by a sol-gel process. One of the prepared nanoparticles was applied in a formulation of polyurethane film for automotive applications. The loading of nanoparticle was varied between 0.1% and 2.0%. First, these films' properties were investigated by using FTIR and thermal gravimetric analysis. Next, these films were subjected to UV exposure testing. The structural changes were characterized by applying FTIR analysis and measuring water contact angle, gloss, and colour deviation. The results indicate that incorporating nanoparticles into the polymer matrix improves the UV-resistance properties of the polymer matrix. Additionally, the nanoparticles enhanced the polymer film's thermal stability until the temperature was 320 degrees C. Above this temperature, nanoparticles were catalytically active, which accelerated polymer's decomposition giving residue of lower weight percentage. Overall, polyurethane films with nanoparticle loading levels from 0.1 to 1.0 wt% gave the best UV-resistance performance.