Chemical heterogeneity in interfacial layers of polymer nanocomposites

Siyang Yang, Siqi Liu, Suresh Narayanan, Chongfeng Zhang, Pinar Akcora

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

It is well-known that particle-polymer interactions strongly control the adsorption and conformations of adsorbed chains. Interfacial layers around nanoparticles consisting of adsorbed and free matrix chains have been extensively studied to reveal their rheological contribution to the behavior of nanocomposites. This work focuses on how chemical heterogeneity of the interfacial layers around the particles governs the microscopic mechanical properties of polymer nanocomposites. Low glass-transition temperature composites consisting of poly(vinyl acetate) coated silica nanoparticles in poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(methyl acrylate) matrices, and of poly(methyl methacrylate) silica nanoparticles in a poly(methyl acrylate) matrix are examined using rheology and X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy. We demonstrate that miscibility between the adsorbed and matrix chains in the interfacial layers led to the observed unusual reinforcement. We suggest that packing of chains in the interfacial regions may also contribute to the reinforcement in the polymer nanocomposites. These features may be used in designing mechanically adaptive composites operating at varying temperature.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4784-4791
Number of pages8
JournalSoft Matter
Volume14
Issue number23
DOIs
StatePublished - 2018

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