Thermo‐mechanical behavior of poly(butylene terephthalate)/silica nanocomposites

ABSTRACT In this work, experimental results about poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) based nanocomposites filled with various amounts of silica nanoparticles (NPs) are reported. Two different types of filler are used: silica gel NPs, produced through the Stöber method, and a commercial fumed silica,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of applied polymer science Vol. 135; no. 11
Main Authors Russo, P., Costantini, A., Luciani, G., Tescione, F., Lavorgna, M., Branda, F., Silvestri, B.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 15.03.2018
Subjects
Chemical industry
differential scanning calorimetry
Dynamic mechanical analysis
Electron microscopy
Fourier transforms
Glass transition temperature
Gravimetric analysis
Infrared analysis
Infrared spectroscopy
Materials science
Mechanical properties
Nanocomposites
Nanoparticles
nanowires and nanocrystals
Polybutylene terephthalates
polyesters
Polymers
Silica fume
Silica gel
Silicon dioxide
Spectrum analysis
Storage modulus
Terephthalate
Thermal analysis
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Summary:ABSTRACT In this work, experimental results about poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) based nanocomposites filled with various amounts of silica nanoparticles (NPs) are reported. Two different types of filler are used: silica gel NPs, produced through the Stöber method, and a commercial fumed silica, both coated by a PBT shell. Melt‐mixed samples have been thoroughly investigated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, wide and small angle X‐ray diffraction, and dynamic mechanical analysis. A fine and very good dispersion of NPs into the polymeric matrix is revealed through the morphological analysis when Stöber NPs were used as filler with respect to systems including commercial fumed silica particles. This evidence, combined with matrix–filler interactions revealed by FTIR spectroscopy, justifies the enhancement of both storage modulus and glass transition temperature of the former samples in comparison with reference pristine PBT. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46006.
ISSN:0021-8995
1097-4628
DOI:10.1002/app.46006