TITLE:
Could Nanoparticles Reinforce Polymer Matrices?
AUTHORS:
G. Schrodj, M.-P. Hirn, B. Haidar
KEYWORDS:
Polymer; Nanoparticle; Dynamic Modulus; Static Deformation; Adsorption; Calorimeter; Interphase
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering,
Vol.1 No.5,
November
7,
2013
ABSTRACT: In this work,we challenge the
idea that “introducing nanoparticles in polymer matrices enhance properties”
which is assumed spreading almost dogmatically. Two series of compounds were
prepared: one based on elastomers (solution-SBR) filled with conventional
carbon black particles, CB, the other used the same polymer but filled with
carbon nanotubes, CNT. The results of two types of experiments were compared on
the two series. The first is physical based on the non linear response of
filled materials to static deformation, the second physicochemical, stands on
calorimetric measurements of the polymer heat of adsorption on the solid.
Static deformation effect on dynamic mechanical modulus shows the behavior of
the CB filled elastomers was qualitatively identical to that of glassy polymer
reflecting the existence of an immobilized fraction of the polymer at the
intephase, while that of CNT was found identical to unfilled polymer indicating
a poor filler-polymer interactions. Polymer adsorption measured by flow micro
calorimeter showed a substantial amount of heat exchange on the surface of CB
while no heat of adsorption was detected on CNT. The lack of interaction
between the polymer and the CNT, except for a small domain of a narrow polymer
molecular weight, prevent any enhancements of mechanical properties. Other
applications may be improved.