Insight into the optical properties of poly-methyl-methacrylate (PMMA) loaded with ferric chloride (FeCl3) in varying concentration

Abstract The present work has been carried out to understand the variations in a physical property that occur on insertion of a filler material in a polymer. Here, the authors report the synthesis and optical characterization of thin films of FeCl3 doped poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). These films have been prepared by dispersing FeCl3 in different concentration (1%,2%,4%,8%) in PMMA using the solution casting technique. The thickness of the developed films is 100 μm. The optical properties of pure PMMA film and PMMA films doped with FeCl3 were investigated by recording the transmittance data on EI 2375 UV–VIS double beam spectrophotometer in the wavelength range 400–1100 nm. Results show that transmittance of the films decreases as the concentration of metal salt increases, attaining a minimum transmittance of 59% for 8 wt% of filler. This transmission data is further used to evaluate all other optical parameters like absorption coefficient (α), extinction coefficient (κ), refractive index (η), real and imaginary parts of dielectric constant (er andei), optical conductivity (σ) and skin depth (χ). The optical energy band gaps (Eg) have also been calculated.