Influence of α-Fe2O3 nanorods on the thermal stability of poly(methyl methacrylate) synthesized by in situ bulk polymerisation of methyl methacrylate

α-Fe2O3 nanorods were incorporated into poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) by in situ radical polymerisation of methyl methacrylate initiated by 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile. The α-Fe2O3 nanorods were synthesized by forced hydrolysis of FeCl3 and structural characterization was performed by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The molar mass and the polydispersity index of synthesized PMMA samples were determined by gel permeation chromatography. The content of residual monomer was determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy. The influence of α-Fe2O3 nanorods on the thermal stability of the polymer was investigated using thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry. The molar mass and polydispersity index of PMMA were dependent on the content of α-Fe2O3 nanorods. The values of the glass transition temperature of the nanocomposites were lower compared to pure PMMA. Also, the thermal stability of nanocomposites in nitrogen and air was different from that of pure PMMA.