Effects of Different Stimuli on the Structure of Nano-Anatase and Poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) in the Nano-Anatase/Poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) Composites

Nanocomposites based on poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) containing functional nano-anatase particles were produced by mixing and mechanical grinding of mixtures of poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) and Hombifine N (nano-anatase) powders in a porcelain mortar (method 1) and by mechanical milling of the same powders using a high-energy planetary ball mill (method 2). Differences in the diffraction patterns of nanocomposites prepared by method 1 (partial crystallization and an amorphization of nano-anatase particles in the nano-anatase/poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) composite) and method 2 (amorphization of nano-anatase particles) were found. An increase in the X-ray intensity was found to cause physical degradation of the polymer in nano-anatase/poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) composites depending on its prehistory. The preparation of nanocomposites by method 2 was shown to increase photocatalytic activity in the degradation of the dye methyl orange under ultraviolet light irradiation.