Development of glow-in-the-dark and color-tunable poly(methyl methacrylate) plastic concrete immobilized with rare-earth aluminate

A simple method is reported for the prospective industrial production of lightweight poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) plastic concrete with persistent afterglow. Nanoparticles (NPs) of lanthanide activated aluminate (LAA) pigment were molded into a plastic bar. With the uniform dispersion of LAA NPs in the plastic fluid, the produced plastic bar can be made transparent. was A simple polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA; bulk material) blended with silica nanoparticles (filler), and LAA nanoparticles (luminous agent) was applied in the presence of 2,2-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) catalyst to provide photoluminescent PMMA plastic concrete. In studies, LAA NPs were found to have sizes between 9 and 95 nm. When excited at 369 nm, the luminescent PMMA concrete displayed an emission peak at 518 nm. For pigment concentrations over 1%, persistent photoluminescence was observed, whereas fluorescence was tracked for the LAA contents equal to or below 1%. The manufactured plastic concrete was shown to exhibit photochromism from colorless under daytime light to green below UV, and greenish-yellow in the dark. By measuring the static contact angle, we were able to confirm the excellent superhydrophobic activity. Indications of enhanced UV protection and photostability were monitored upon increasing LAA ratio in the concrete bulk. Strong durability, reversibility and continuous afterglow emission were hallmarks of the photoluminescent hard composite concrete. The created plastic concrete morphology, elemental content and hardness properties were studied.