Modification of optical characteristics of a polymer composite material under irradiation

Polymer composites based on polystyrene and modified SiO$_2$ are synthesized. Effect of the SiO$_2$ concentration on the surface (thermostatic) properties of the composites is analyzed. Surfaces of composites with different SiO$_2$ concentrations are microscopically studied. Minor amounts of spherical agglomerates are obtained at relatively high SiO$_2$ concentrations, and the size of the agglomerates may amount to 80 $\mu$m at a SiO$_2$ concentration of 30 wt %. Variations in the integral absorbance of solar radiation are studied for the polymer composites irradiated with vacuum-UV radiation at a temperature of 125$^{\circ}$C.