Comparative studies on effects of silica and titania nanoparticles on crystallization and complex segmental dynamics in poly(dimethylsiloxane)

• Published in: Polymer (Guilford) Vol. 51; no. 23; pp. 5490 - 5499
• Main Authors: Klonos, P., Panagopoulou, A., Bokobza, L., Kyritsis, A., Peoglos, V., Pissis, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 29.10.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Broadband; Composites; Dynamic tests; Dynamics; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Glass transition; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Poly(dimethylsiloxane) nanocomposites; Polymer crystallization; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Segmental dynamics; Silicon dioxide; Technology of polymers; Titanium dioxide; Poly(dimethylsiloxane) nanocomposites; Polymer crystallization; Segmental dynamics; Dimethylsiloxane polymer; Crystallinity; Experimental study; Titania; Silica; Dielectric relaxation; Transformation temperature; Thermostimulated depolarization; Heat of transformation; Melt crystallization; Concentration effect; Nanocomposite; Titanium oxide; Filler; Comparative study; Silicone elastomer
• ISSN: 0032-3861; 1873-2291
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2010.09.054

Effects of in situ synthesized silica and titania nanoparticles, 5 and 20–40 nm in diameter, respectively, on glass transition and segmental dynamics of poly(dimethylsiloxane) networks were studied by employing differential scanning calorimetry, thermally stimulated depolarization currents and broadband dielectric relaxation spectroscopy techniques. Strong interactions between the well dispersed fillers and the polymer suppress crystallinity and affect significantly the evolution of the glass transition in the nanocomposites. Next to the α relaxation associated with the glass transition of the bulk amorphous polymer fraction, two more segmental relaxations were recorded, originating from polymer chains restricted between condensed crystal regions (αc-relaxation) and the semi-bound polymer in an interfacial layer with strongly reduced mobility due to interactions with hydroxyls on the nanoparticle surface (α′ relaxation), respectively. Interactions with the polymer were found to be stronger in the case of titania than silica, leading to an estimated interaction length of around 2 nm for silica and at least double for titania nanocomposites. [Display omitted]