Structural characterization and high‐temperature compressive creep of PTFE‐based composites filled with inorganic nanoparticles

The PTFE‐based nanocomposites with various contents of inorganic nanoparticles (n‐AlN and n‐Si₃N₄) were prepared by cold compaction followed by free sintering. The results of scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X‐ray diffraction show that PTFE spherulite formed in the nanocomposites. When 2 wt% inorganic nanoparticles were added into the PTFE matrix, the crystallinity increased from 34.3% to 42.1% and 43.2%, respectively. Moreover, the interplanar distances for each crystal plane were enlarged and the grain sizes were smaller than that of pure PTFE. In addition, the mechanical and high‐temperature compressive creep properties were investigated. The results indicate that the introduction of inorganic nanoparticles largely increased the high‐temperature compressive creep resistance, and the maximal reduction of percentage of creep strain was up to 68%. The tensile strengths of the nanocomposites increased with increasing filler content when it was no more than 2%, and then decreased with the further increase of the filler content, whereas the elongations at break showed a reverse tendency. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of a post‐annealing process on microstructure and mechanical properties of high‐density polyethylene/silica nanocomposites

High‐density polyethylene (HDPE) and nanosilica nanocomposites were prepared for SiO₂ content up to 15 wt%. Microstructural characterization evidenced a homogenous distribution of silica aggregates with a mean size increasing with the filler content finally resulting in a rheological percolation between 7.5 and 10 wt%. Nanoparticles did not induce any significant impact on the matrix crystallinity but led to a real improvement on elastic properties accompanied with a large embrittlement above the percolation threshold. The effect of annealing near HDPE melting temperature was studied. Differential scanning calorimetry, X‐ray diffraction, and small‐angle X‐ray scattering analyses showed a significant change in the HDPE microstructure after annealing at 125°C. A large increase in the crystallinity (from 68 to 76%) and a clear improvement of Young's modulus (by 55%) were observed prior to polymer degradation. A valuable impact of silica particles on thermal stability was also obvious regarding the evolution of elastic properties for extended exposure times (850–1,200 h). © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 535–546     

Enhanced dielectric performance of a block copolymer‐polythiophene nanocomposite

Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) transform electrical energy into mechanical work. However, despite displaying exceptional features, the low permittivity of elastomers restricts their application. Hence, to overcome this limitation, DEAs are fabricated by dispersing poly(3‐methylthiophene acetate) (P3TMA), a polarizable conducting polymer, into poly[styrene‐b‐(ethylene‐co‐butylene)‐b‐styrene] (SEBS), a thermoplastic elastomer with excellent mechanical properties. Although high‐quality SEBS:P3TMA films are obtained for all compositions (between 0.5 and 20 wt % P3TMA), their thickness and surface roughness increase with the nano‐sized filler content. Moreover, the conducting particles are well integrated into the SEBS network with no evidence of aggregation or significant change in the mechanical properties of the composites. P3TMA, which forms encapsulated conductive domains within the polymeric matrix, improves the dielectric behavior of SEBS:P3TMA by increasing their dielectric constant with low dielectric losses and no current leakage. Thus, indicating the potential future application of these nanocomposites as elastomer actuators or high energy density capacitors. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 1896–1905     

Decoupling the effects of screw speed and particle surface functionality on the filler suspension state in PBS/fumed silica nanocomposites

This work assessed the relative effects of processing conditions and interfacial interactions on the structure and properties of PBS/fumed silica nanocomposites. Rheology and scattering were used to investigate the dispersion state of silica particles with different surface treatments in nanocomposites produced by ultra‐high speed twin‐screw extrusion. Structural parameters of the silica, such as fractal dimension and Fisher exponent, were estimated by low‐frequency rheology responses and lower q scattering data. This study demonstrates that both decreased bulk polymer properties and improved filler suspension caused by high shear compounding determine the final properties of these PBS based nanocomposites. While the molecular weight of bulk polymer matrix was significantly reduced, the extreme shear increased the probability of forming percolated clusters, leading to remarkable reinforcement (up to 4000%) as evidenced by the low‐frequency rheological response. Further, the improvement in dispersion was enhanced when the filler was functionalized with a compatibilizing surface treatment. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 1820–1828     

Photo‐oxidation and Stabilization of sPP and iPP/Boehmite‐Disperal Nanocomposites

Photo‐oxidation studies on polypropylene (PP)/organoclay nanocomposites were performed. Nanocomposites of isotactic (iPP) and syndiotactic (sPP) polypropylene were prepared by melt compounding. The nanofiller was Boehmite Disperal OS2–alumina hydrates (Al(OH)O) modified by C10–C13 alkylbenzene sulfonic acid. The nanofiller content was 1, 5, and 10 wt%. There is a clear pro‐degradation effect of filler for both types of polypropylene used. The extent of this effect depends on the amount of filler and type of polypropylene used. In the case of sPP samples, the pro‐degradation effect is proportional to the amount of filler in the whole concentration range of filler content used. In the case of iPP, there is a pro‐degradation plateau at 5 wt% content of filler and higher concentration of filler (10 wt%) does not increase the rate and the course of photo‐oxidation. Two long term stabilizers of HAS family were tested ‐ commercial oligomeric stabilizer Chimassorb 944 (CHIM) and synthesized combined HAS/phenol (TMP). Stabilizing efficiency depends on the filler content. CHIM is able to stabilize just the nanocomposites with the lowest content (1 wt%) of filler. There is no stabilizing effect of this HAS in the case of the higher amount of nanofiller (5 and 10 wt%) in both types of polypropylene. By contrast, the combined HAS/phenol‐TMP revealed some stabilizing efficiency over the whole range of filler content. The possible reasons for this difference are discussed. Interactions of filler with some HAS stabilizers were studied in cyclohexane as a model liquid for polypropylene by UV‐spectroscopy. Interaction resulted in the fixing of additive on filler. Much stronger interaction has been obtained for oligomeric CHIM in comparison with low molecular HAS.     

Preparation and properties of chitosan nanocomposites with nanofillers of different dimensions

In this work, the chitosan ternary nanocomposites with two-dimensional (2D) clay platelets and one-dimensional (1D) CNTs have been successfully prepared by a simple solution-intercalation/mixing method in acid media. It was found that the thermal degradation temperature of chitosan (at 50% weight loss) could be only improved in about 20-30 °C by adding 3 wt% either clay or CNTs, however, almost 80 °C increase of degradation temperature could be achieved by adding 2 wt% clay and 1 wt% CNTs together. Dynamic mechanical measurement demonstrated an obviously improved storage modulus for chitosan/clay-CNTs than that for the corresponding binary chitosan/clay or chitosan/CNT nanocomposites with the same total filler content (3 wt%). For the solvent vapor permeation properties, a largely improved benzene vapor barrier property was observed only in chitosan/clay-CNT ternary nanocomposites and depended on the ratio of clay to CNTs. XRD, SEM and TEM results showed that both clay and CNTs could be well dispersed in the ternary nanocomposites with the nanotubes located around the clay platelets. FTIR showed an improved interaction between the fillers and chitosan by using both clay and CNTs. A much enhanced solid-like behavior was observed in the ternary nanocomposites, compared with the corresponding binary nanocomposites with the same total filler content, as indicated by rheological measurement. The unique synergistic effect of two-dimensional (2D) clay platelets and one-dimensional (1D) CNTs on the property enhancement could be tentatively understood as due to a formation of much jammed filler network with 1D CNTs and 2D clay platelets combined together. Our work demonstrates a good example for the preparation of high performance polymer nanocomposites by using nanofillers with different dimensions together.     

Hydrophilic nanocomposites based on polyurethane/poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) semi‐IPNs and modified/unmodified nanosilica for biomedical applications

Nanocomposites based on sequential semi‐interpenetrating polymer network (semi‐IPN) of cross‐linked polyurethane and linear poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) with 0.25 and 3 wt % of nanosilica filler were prepared and investigated. The unmodified silica, carboxyl‐modified, and amino‐modified silica were used in an attempt to control the microphase separation of the polymer matrix by polymer–filler interactions. A variety of experimental techniques were used to study morphology, thermal transitions, mechanical properties, and polymer dynamics of the nanocomposites. Special attention was paid to the investigation of the hydration properties of the nanocomposites in the perspective of biomedical applications. The results show that the good hydration properties of the semi‐IPN matrix are preserved in the nanocomposites. Effects of water on polymer dynamics were found to be particularly pronounced for the secondary β_sw,_PHEMA and the β_PU relaxations, in agreement with interpretations in terms of hydrogen bonding interactions with specific groups in the structure of the two polymers. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014 , 52, 397–408     

Melt‐compounded nanocomposites of titanium dioxide atomic‐layer‐deposition‐coated polyamide and polystyrene powders

Polyamide and polystyrene particles were coated with titanium dioxide films by atomic layer deposition (ALD) and then melt‐compounded to form polymer nanocomposites. The rheological properties of the ALD‐created nanocomposite materials were characterized with a melt flow indexer, a melt flow spiral mould, and a rotational rheometer. The results suggest that the melt flow properties of polyamide nanocomposites were markedly better than those of pure polyamide and polystyrene nanocomposites. Such behavior was shown to originate in an uncontrollable decrease in the polyamide molecular weight, likely affected by a high thin‐film impurity content, as shown in gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with an energy‐dispersive spectrometer. Transmission electron microscope image showed that a thin film grew on both studied polymer particles, and that subsequent melt‐compounding was successful, producing well dispersed ribbon‐like titanium dioxide with the titanium dioxide filler content ranging from 0.06 to 1.12 wt%. Even though we used nanofillers with a high aspect ratio, they had only a minor effect on the tensile and flexural properties of the polystyrene nanocomposites. The mechanical behavior of polyamide nanocomposites was more complex because of the molecular weight degradation. Our approach here to form polymeric nanocomposites is one way to tailor ceramic nanofillers and form homogenous polymer nanocomposites with minimal work‐related risks in handling powder form nanofillers. However, further research is needed to gauge the commercial potential of ALD‐created nanocomposite materials. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preparation and Rheological Characterization of Polymer Nanocomposites Based on Expanded Graphite

A new type of conductive filler, namely expanded graphite (EG), was used to prepare novel nanocomposites. The EG was incorporated into several rather different polymers, specifically polycarbonate (PC), low‐density polyethylene (LDPE), isotactic polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS), using melt mixing in a small‐scale DACA‐Microcompounder. The EG content was varied between 1 and 20 wt%. The rheological properties and morphologies of the nanocomposites were characterized by melt rheology and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The melt‐state linear viscoelastic properties were investigated using an ARES rheometer, with the measurements performed in the dynamic mode at various temperatures over a wide range of frequencies. Addition of the EG increased the linear dynamic moduli and melt viscosity of the materials. Up to a certain critical concentration of EG, the materials exhibited a simple liquid‐like behavior. Above this concentration, however, significant changes in the frequency dependences of the moduli and viscosity were observed. In addition, the moduli showed a liquid‐solid transition resulting in a second plateau in the low frequency‐regime, and the complex viscosity revealed shear‐thinning behavior. Specific values of this percolation concentration were found to be at around 4 wt% in the case of PC/EG, 9 wt% for PP/EG and PS/EG, and 12 wt% for PE/EG. This critical concentration was correlated to a network‐like structure formed through interactions between the EG platelets and the polymers. The extent of these complications was found to vary from polymer to polymer, presumably due to different degrees of EG exfoliation and dispersion arising from different EG‐polymer interactions and from variable shearing forces dependent on the polymer viscosities. The formation of network‐like structures is very sensitively displayed using van Gurp‐Palmen plots, which are most suitable for identifying “rheological percolation” in our investigated systems.     

Interfacial interaction in EVA‐carbon nanotube and EVA‐clay nanocomposites

Proper filler‐matrix compatibility is a key factor in view of obtaining nanocomposites with well‐dispersed nanofillers displaying enhanced properties. In this respect, polymer‐filler interaction can be improved by a proper combination of matrix and nanofiller polarities. This is explored for matrices ranging from nonpolar high density poly(ethylene) to ethylene‐vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers with varying vinyl acetate contents, in combination with several types of organoclay or carbon nanotubes. A novel in situ characterization methodology using modulated temperature differential scanning calorimetry is presented to evaluate the matrix‐filler interaction. During quasi‐isothermal crystallization of the matrix, an “excess” contribution is observed in the recorded heat capacity signal because of reversible melting and crystallization. Its magnitude considerably decreases upon addition of nanofiller in case of strong interfacial interaction, whereas the influence is moderate in case of a less interacting matrix‐filler combination. It is suggested that the “excess heat capacity” can be used to quantify the segmental mobility of polymer chains in the vicinity of the nanofiller. Hence it provides valuable information on the strength of interaction, governed by the physical and chemical nature of matrix and filler. Heating experiments subsequent to quasi‐isothermal crystallization point at a certain degree of molecular ordering, responsible for crystal nucleation in EVA copolymers. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 1291–1302, 2007     

Development and thermo‐mechanical behavior of nanocomposite epoxy adhesives

Two kinds of organo‐modified (OM) clays were dispersed in an epoxy resin for the preparation of nanocomposite adhesives at various filler amounts. XRD tests evidenced the formation of intercalated structures, increasing the intercalation degree with the clay hydrophilicity. The original transparency of the samples was retained up to a filler content of 3 wt%, and then decreased due to filler agglomeration. The glass transition temperature of nanocomposites filled with the more hydrophilic clay (30B) raised up to a filler content of 3 wt% and then decreased, probably because of the concurrent and contrasting effects of the physical chain blocking and reduction of the cross‐linking degree. Also elastic modulus, stress at break, and fracture toughness were sensibly improved by nanoclay addition up to filler loadings of 0.5–1 wt%. For higher concentrations the positive contribution of clay nanoplatelets was counterbalanced by the presence of agglomerated tactoids in the matrix. Mechanical tests on single‐lap composite (epoxy/glass) bonded joints evidenced an enhancement of the shear strength by about 25% for an optimal filler content of 1 wt%. Therefore, it was concluded that the addition of a proper amount of OM clay to epoxy adhesives could represent an effective way to improve the shear resistance of adhesively bonded composite structures. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Glass transition and relaxation behavior of epoxy nanocomposites

With advances in nanoscience and nanotechnology, there is increasing interest in polymer nanocomposites, both in scientific research and for engineering applications. Because of the small size of nanoparticles, the polymer–filler interface property becomes a dominant factor in determining the macroscopic material properties of the nanocomposites. The glass‐transition behaviors of several epoxy nanocomposites have been investigated with modulated differential scanning calorimetry. The effect of the filler size, filler loading, and dispersion conditions of the nanofillers on the glass‐transition temperature (T_g) have been studied. In comparison with their counterparts with micrometer‐sized fillers, the nanocomposites show a T_g depression. For the determination of the reason for the T_g depression, the thermomechanical and dielectric relaxation processes of the silica nanocomposites have been investigated with dynamic mechanical analysis and dielectric analysis. The T_g depression is related to the enhanced polymer dynamics due to the extra free volume at the resin–filler interface. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 3849–3858, 2004     

Characterization of polypropylene/layered silicate nanocomposites prepared by single-step method

The extent of organo-modified clay (C93A) platelets dispersion in polymer matrix and crystallization and melting behavior of iPP-based nanocomposites prepared by a single-step melt-mixing method were investigated by wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), transmission (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). WAXD patterns revealed exfoliated structure of nanocomposites containing 1 wt% clay, and mixed intercalated/exfoliated structure at higher concentration of nanoclay. The isothermal crystallization proceeds faster in the matrix polymer (iPP/PP-g-MA) than in nanocomposite samples. The results obtained for T _m ^o suggest that the presence of nanoclay has induced a perfection of the formed crystals. The presence of C93A particles in PP leads to increase in crystallization peak temperature implying nucleating ability of clay particles, which was more pronounced in exfoliated than in mixed intercalated/exfoliated system.     

Tuning the mechanical properties in model nanocomposites: Influence of the polymer‐filler interfacial interactions

This article presents a study of the polymer‐filler interfacial effects on filler dispersion and mechanical reinforcement in Polystyrene (PS)/silica nanocomposites by direct comparison of two model systems: ungrafted and PS‐grafted silica dispersed in PS matrix. The structure of nanoparticles has been investigated by combining small angle neutron scattering measurements and transmission electronic microscopic images. The mechanical properties were studied over a wide range of deformation by plate–plate rheology and uni‐axial stretching. At low silica volume fraction, the particles arrange, for both systems, in small finite size nonconnected aggregates and the materials exhibit a solid‐like behavior independent of the local polymer‐fillers interactions suggesting that reinforcement is dominated by additional long range effects. At high silica volume fraction, a continuous connected network is created leading to a fast increase of reinforcement whose amplitude is then directly dependent on the strength of the local particle–particle interactions and lower with grafting likely due to deformation of grafted polymer. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011     

UV resistance of encapsulated low molecular weight aromatic compounds in fluoroalkyl end‐capped trimethoxyvinylsilane oligomer/silica nanocomposites

Sol–gel reactions of fluoroalkyl end‐capped trimethoxyvinylsilane oligomer in the presence of low molecular weight aromatic compounds (ArH) such as 1,1′‐bi(2‐naphthol) (BINOL) and 2‐hydroxy‐4‐methoxy benzophenone (HMB) were found to proceed smoothly under alkaline conditions at room temperature to give the corresponding fluorinated oligomeric silica nanocomposites‐encapsulated aromatic compounds (BINOL and HMB) [R_F‐(VM‐SiO₂)_n‐R_F/ArH nanocomposites]. UV light irradiation (λ_max: 254 nm) toward R_F‐(VM‐SiO₂)_n‐R_F/ArH nanocomposites showed that photodegradation of encapsulated ArH was not observed at all in the fluorinated nanocomposites cores, although the parent ArH can exhibit an effective photodegradation behavior under similar conditions. Especially, encapsulated ArH can exhibit no weight loss corresponding to the contents of the aromatic compounds in the fluorinated nanocomposites even after calcination at 800°C. Therefore, fluoroalkyl end‐capped trimethoxyvinylsilane oligomer has high potential for not only the thermal resistance but also the UV resistance fluorinated polymeric materials. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dynamic mechanical and dielectrical properties of poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(vinyl alcohol)‐based nanocomposites

In this article we report on the investigation of the dynamics of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and PVA‐based composite films by means of dielectric spectroscopy and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. Once the characterization of pure PVA was done, we studied the effect of a nanostructured magnetic filler (nanosized CoFe₂O₄ particles homogeneously dispersed within a sulfonated polystyrene matrix) on the dynamics of PVA. Our results suggest that the α‐relaxation process, corresponding to the glass transition of PVA, is affected by the filler. The glass‐transition temperature of PVA increases with filler content up to compositions of around 10 wt %, probably as a result of polymer–filler interactions that reduce the polymer chain mobility. For filler contents higher than 10 wt %, the glass‐transition temperature of PVA decreases as a result of the absorption of water that causes a plasticizing effect. The β‐ and γ‐relaxation processes of PVA are not affected by the filler as stated from both dynamic mechanical thermal analysis and dielectric spectroscopy. Nevertheless, both relaxation processes are greatly affected by the moisture content. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 1968–1975, 2001     

Preparation and thermal stability of fluoroalkyl end‐capped vinyltrimethoxysilane oligomeric silica/boric acid nanocomposites‐encapsulated a variety of low molecular weight organic compounds

Fluoroalkyl end‐capped vinyltrimethoxysilane oligomer [R_F‐(VM)_n‐R_F] reacted with boric acid to afford the corresponding fluorinated oligomeric silica/boric acid nanocomposite [R_F‐(VM? SiO₂)_n‐R_F/B(OH)₃] fine particles with mean diameter: 36–105 nm. The obtained R_F‐(VM? SiO₂)_n‐R_F/B(OH)₃ nanocomposites were applied to the encapsulation of low molecular weight organic compounds such as diphenylsilanediol, 1,1′‐bi‐2‐naphthol, 4,4′‐biphenol, bisphenol A, bisphenol F, bisphenol AF, biphenyl, dibenzyl, and pentaerythritol into these nanocomposite cores to provide the corresponding fluorinated oligomeric silica/boric acid nanocomposites—encapsulated these organic molecules. Interestingly, the obtained nanocomposites were found to exhibit no weight loss behavior corresponding to the contents of these guest molecules even after calcination at 800 °C, although these nanocomposites were isolated through no purification process. The R_F‐(VM? SiO₂)_n‐R_F nanocomposites—encapsulated these organic guest molecules were prepared under similar conditions. However, it was demonstrated that these nanocomposites can provide the clear weight loss corresponding to the contents of these guest molecules in the nanocomposites after calcination at 800 °C. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 3835–3845     

Phase behavior of modified montmorillonite– poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) nanocomposites

The thermal behavior and overall isothermal crystallization kinetics of a series of organophilic modified montmorillonite–poly(?‐caprolactone) nanocomposites were investigated. In general, the thermal behavior was influenced more by the type of dispersion than by the clay content. For nanocomposites in which silicate platelets were predominantly dispersed in the polymer matrix to give exfoliated structures, the thermal properties were improved with respect to those of neat poly(?‐caprolactone), whereas in those cases in which simply intercalated structures were attained, the thermal properties regularly decayed as the clay content increased. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 1321–1332, 2004     

Interfacial effects in organophilic montmorillonite–poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) nanocomposites

In the last few years much progress has been made in the development of hybrid polymer–inorganic filler nanocomposites. Nevertheless, many questions remain. The comprehension of the structure and the interactions at the polymer–nanofiller interface are crucial to foresee and control the properties of nanocomposites. Because of the high surface ratio of the inorganic nanofiller, the interface is expected to have a prevailing role in determining the nanocomposite properties. In this study we use X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) as a tool for the surface characterization of an organophilic montmorillonite/poly(ε‐caprolactone) exfoliated nanocomposite. The XPS core levels of the nanocomposite have been compared with those obtained from its precursors, and analyzed as reference compounds to evaluate eventual differences attributable to the polymer–nanofiller interfacial interactions. The XPS investigation has allowed us to propose a qualitative model of possible interface interactions between poly(ε‐caprolactone) and the organo‐modified montmorillonite. The model is substantiated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 3907–3919, 2004     

Low molecular weight aromatic compounds possessing a nonflammable characteristic in fluoroalkyl end‐capped acrylic acid oligomer/silica nanocomposite matrices after calcination at 800 °C under atmospheric conditions

Fluoroalkyl end‐capped acrylic acid oligomer [R_F‐(ACA)_n‐R_F] reacted with tetraethoxysilane and silica nanoparticles in the presence of low molecular weight aromatic compounds [ Ar‐H ] such as cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and bisphenol AF under alkaline conditions to afford R_F‐(ACA)_n‐R_F/SiO₂ nanocomposites‐encapsulated Ar‐H in 47–94% isolated yields. These fluorinated silica nanocomposites‐encapsulated Ar‐H can exhibit no weight loss behavior corresponding to the contents of Ar‐H after calcination at 800 °C under atmospheric conditions, although fluoroalkyl end‐capped acrylic acid oligomer in the nanocomposites decomposed completely under similar conditions. UV‐vis spectra of well‐dispersed methanol solutions of R_F‐(ACA)_n‐R_F/SiO₂/CPC nanocomposites before calcination show that CPC can be encapsulated into fluorinated silica nanocomposites with encapsulated ratios: 23–43%. The fluorinated nanocomposites after calcination was found to exhibit a higher antibacterial activity related to the presence of CPC in the composites. Encapsulated bisphenol AF into R_F‐(ACA)_n‐R_F/SiO₂ nanocomposites before and after calcination at 800 °C can exhibit a good releasing ability toward methanol with released ratios: 48 and 26%, respectively. ¹H MAS NMR, HPLC analysis, and LC‐MS spectra of R_F‐(ACA)_n‐R_F/silica nanocomposites‐encapsulated bisphenol AF also showed the presence of bisphenol AF in the nanocomposites even after calcination at 800 °C under atmospheric conditions. These findings suggest that CPC and bisphenol AF can exhibit a nonflammable characteristic in the fluorinated silica nanocomposites. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011