Influence of the Reflective Silver Coating Layer on the Long-Term Durability of Ag Nanoparticles/Polymer Assembly
Résumé
In this paper, we have sought to determine if a reflective silver coating layer could prevent the
degradation of a silver/acrylate polymer assembly and the loss of its optical property in an
environment simulating sunlight. For this purpose, a multiscale approach from micro(nano)
scale to macroscopic scale was applied. The overcomes of this investigation revealed that the
metallic coating did not act as a barrier against photooxidation of the polymer matrix and silver
nanoparticles, on contrary, catalysed the degradation process. The multiscale approach showed
that not only the matrix underwent structural and architectural changes with the formation of
oxidative products and volatile compounds due to chain scission reaction, but also the alteration
of the metallic layer with the formation of defects at its surface, evidenced by optical and atomic
force microscopy.
An original approach using photo-DSC allowed to monitor the thermo-optical properties of the
material. It pointed out the loss of the optical properties of the silver/polymer assembly during
irradiation that was linked to the degradation of the acrylate polymer.