Covalent bonded polymer–graphene nanocomposites

This report describes a new route to covalently bonded polymer–graphene nanocomposites and the subsequent enhancement in thermal and mechanical properties of the resultant nanocomposites. At first, the graphite is oxidized by the modified Hummers method followed by functionalization with Octadecylamine (ODA). The ODA functionalized graphite oxides are reacted with methacryloyl chloride to incorporate polymerizable ? C?C? functionality at the nanographene platelet surfaces, which were subsequently employed in in situ polymerization of methylmethacrylate to obtain covalently bonded poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)–graphene nanocomposites. The obtained nanocomposites show significant enhancement in thermal and mechanical properties compared with neat PMMA. Thus, even with 0.5 wt % graphene nanosheets, the T_g increased from 119 °C for neat PMMA to 131 °C for PMMA–graphene nanocomposite, and the respective storage modulus increased from 1.29 to 2 GPa. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 4262–4267, 2010     

Glass‐transition temperature behavior of alumina/PMMA nanocomposites

Alumina/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanocomposites were synthesized by an in situ free‐radical polymerization process with 38 and 17 nm diameter γ‐alumina nanoparticles. At extremely low filler weight fractions (<1.0 wt % of 38 nm fillers or < 0.5 wt % of 17 nm fillers) the glass‐transition temperature (T_g) of the nanocomposites drops by 25 °C when compared to the neat polymer. Further additions of filler (up to 10 wt %) do not lead to additional T_g reductions. The thermal behavior is shown to vary with particle size, but this dependence can be normalized with respect to a specific surface area. The nanocomposite T_g phenomenon is hypothesized to be because of nonadhering nanoparticles that serve as templates for a porous system with many internal interfaces that break up the percolating structure of dynamically heterogeneous domains recently suggested by Long, D.; and Lequeux, F. Eur Phys J E 2001, 4, 371 to be responsible for the T_g reductions in polymer ultrathin films. The results also point to a far field effect of the nanoparticle surface on the bulk matrix. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 4371–4383, 2004     

Morphology,tensile properties,and fracture toughness of epoxy/Al2O3 nanocomposites

Epoxy/Al₂O₃ nanocomposites were prepared using an epoxy resin, diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A, and cured with a polyoxypropylene diamine (Jeffamine D‐400). Transmission electron microscopy and wide angle X‐ray diffraction were employed to reveal the morphology of epoxy/Al₂O₃ nanocomposites. Dynamic mechanical analysis results showed that the storage modulus and the glass transition temperature (T_g) of epoxy were improved. Tensile strength and Young's modulus also increased with increasing Al₂O₃ loading. Fracture toughness, as indicated by the stress intensity factor, K_Q, was determined using single edge notch bending method, and 40% increase in K_Q was observed with only 2 vol % Al₂O₃. Scanning electron microscopy study of fracture surface showed a rather smooth and flat morphology for neat epoxy. However, massive plastic deformation was observed for epoxy/Al₂O₃ nanocomposites, leading to the significant increase in fracture toughness. The influence of spherical Al₂O₃ nanoparticles on thermophysical properties of epoxy was discussed and compared with that of sheet‐like nanoclays. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 1466–1473, 2006     

The POSS side chain epoxy nanocomposite: Synthesis and thermal properties

The IPI‐POSS‐modified epoxy resin (IPEP) was prepared from isocyanato‐propyldinethylsilyl‐isobutyl‐POSS (IPI‐POSS) and diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A epoxy resin. The steric hindrance of the IPEP bulky POSS side chain improved the curing activation energies. The POSS particles sizes were about 2–3 nm and dispersed uniformly. At lower IPEP concentration (POSS < 12 wt %), the glass transition temperatures (T_gs) of the IPEP nanocomposites increased from 118 to 170 °C. The char yield increased from 15 to 20 wt %, and the LOI values increased from 22 to 28. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 643–652, 2010     

Controlled surface‐initiated ring‐opening polymerization of L‐lactide from risedronate‐anchored hydroxyapatite nanocrystals: Novel synthesis of biodegradable hydroxyapatite/poly(L‐lactide) nanocomposites

Risedronate‐anchored hydroxyapatite (HA‐RIS) nanocrystals were prepared with 4.1 wt % RIS and used for controlled surface‐initiated ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of L ‐lactide (L ‐LA). The strong adsorption of RIS to HA surface not only led to enhanced dispersion of HA nanocrystals in water as well as in organic solvents but also provided alkanol groups as active initiating species for ROP of L ‐LA. HA‐RIS was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic light scattering, ¹H NMR, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, and X‐ray diffraction. The graft polymerization of L ‐LA onto HA‐RIS took place smoothly in the presence of stannous octoate in toluene at 120 °C, resulting in HA/poly(L ‐LA) nanocomposites with high yields of 85–90% and high poly(L ‐LA) contents of up to 97.5 wt %. Notably, differential scanning calorimetry measurements revealed that the poly(L ‐LA) in HA/poly(L ‐LA) nanocomposites exhibited considerably higher melting temperatures (T_m = 173.3?178.1 °C) and higher degrees of crystallinity (X_c = 41.0?43.1%) as compared to poly(L ‐LA) homopolymer (T_m = 168.5 °C, X_c =25.7%). In addition, our initial results showed that these HA/poly(L ‐LA) nanocomposites could readily be electrospun into porous matrices. This study presented a novel and controlled synthetic strategy to HA/RIS/poly(L ‐LA) nanocomposites that are promising for orthopedic applications as well as for bone tissue engineering. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Synthesis and properties of poly(isobutyl methacrylate‐co‐butanediol dimethacrylate‐co‐methacryl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane) nanocomposites

Poly[isobutyl methacrylate‐co‐butanediol dimethacrylate‐co‐3‐methacrylylpropylheptaisobutyl‐T8‐polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane] [P(iBMA‐co‐BDMA‐co‐MA‐POSS)] nanocomposites with different crosslink densities and different polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (MA‐POSS) percentages (5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 wt %) were synthesized by radical‐initiated terpolymerization. Linear [P(iBMA‐co‐MA‐POSS)] copolymers were also prepared. The viscoelastic properties and morphologies were studied by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, confocal microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The viscoelastic properties depended on the crosslink density. The dependence of viscoelastic properties on MA‐POSS content at a low BDMA loading (1 wt %) was similar to that of linear P(iBMA‐co‐MA‐POSS) copolymers. P(iBMA‐co‐1 wt % BDMA‐co‐10 wt % MA‐POSS) exhibited the highest dynamic storage modulus (E′) values in the rubbery region of this series. The 30 wt % MA‐POSS nanocomposites with 1 wt % BDMA exhibited the lowest E′. However, the E′ values in the rubbery region for P(iBMA‐co‐3 wt % BDMA‐co‐MA‐POSS) nanocomposites with 15 and 30 wt % MA‐POSS were higher than those of the parent P(iBMA‐co‐3 wt % BDMA) resin. MA‐POSS raised the E′ values of all P(iBMA‐co‐ 5 wt % BDMA‐co‐MA‐POSS) nanocomposites in the rubbery region above those of P(iBMA‐co‐5 wt % BDMA), but MA‐POSS loadings < 15 wt % had little influence on glass‐transition temperatures (T_g's) and slightly reduced T_g values with 20 or 30 wt % POSS. Heating history had little influence on viscoelastic properties. No POSS aggregates were observed for the P(iBMA‐co‐1 wt % BDMA‐co‐MA‐POSS) nanocomposites by TEM. POSS‐rich particles with diameters of several micrometers were present in the nanocomposites with 3 or 5 wt % BDMA. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 355–372, 2005     

Synthesis and properties of bismaleimide‐modified novolak resin/silsesquioxane nanocomposites

Bismaleimide‐modified novolak resin/silsesquioxane (BMI‐PN/SiO_3/2) nanocomposites were prepared by the sol–gel process. The reactions in the sol–gel synthesis were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. It was found by field emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy studies that the particle size of the dispersed phase was about 100 nm, and there existed particle aggregates. The proportion of bismaleimide in the BMI‐PN/SiO_3/2 nanocomposites showed an important effect on the thermal properties of the composites, as demonstrated by thermogravimetric analysis and dynamical mechanical analysis. Major improvements in the glass‐transition temperature and the heat resistance of the material were achieved by the introduction of the nanosized SiO_3/2 inorganic phase, and the modulus at high temperatures was improved too. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 2599–2606, 2003     

Rheological properties of ferrite nanocomposites based on nylon‐66

Effects of ferrite nanoparticles (0.1–20 wt %) on the rheological and other physical properties of nylon‐66 were investigated. The presence of ferrite nanoparticles less than 1 wt % increased the crystallization temperature (T_c) by 4.2 °C with ferrite content, but further addition decreased T_c. The onset temperature of degradation was increased by 7.3 °C at only 0.1 wt % loading of ferrite, after which the thermal stability of nylon‐66 was decreased with ferrite content. The incorporation of ferrite nanoparticles more than 5 wt % increased the dynamic viscosity (η′) with the loading level. Further, it produced notably shear thickening behavior in the low frequency, after which high degree of shear thinning was followed with ferrite content. In the Cole–Cole plot, the nanocomposites with ferrite lower than 5 wt % presented a single master curve, while further addition gave rise to a deviation from the curve. The relaxation time (λ) was increased with ferrite content and the difference of λ between nylon‐66 and its nanocomposite was greater at lower frequency. The tensile strength was a little increased up to 1 wt % loading, after which it was decreased with increasing the loading level. In addition, the introduction of the nanoparticles increased tensile modulus and decreased the ductility with ferrite content. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 371–377, 2006     

Preparation and characterization of polypyrrole/magnetite nanocomposites synthesized by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization

This work describes the preparation and characterization of polypyrrole (PPy)/iron oxide nanocomposites fabricated from monodispersed iron oxide nanoparticles in the crystalline form of magnetite (Fe₃O₄) and PPy by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization. Two spherical nanoparticles of magnetite, such as 4 and 8 nm, served as cores were first dispersed in an aqueous solution with anionic surfactant sodium bis(2‐ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate to form micelle/magnetite spherical templates that avoid the aggregation of magnetite nanoparticles during the further preparation of nanocomposites. The PPy/magnetite nanocomposites were then synthesized on the surface of the spherical templates. Structural and morphological analysis showed that the fabricated PPy/magnetite nanocomposites are core (magnetite)‐shell (PPy) structures. Morphology of the PPy/magnetite nanocomposites containing monodispersed 4‐nm magnetite nanoparticles shows a remarkable change from spherical to tube‐like structures as the content of nanoparticles increases from 12 to 24 wt %. Conductivities of these PPy/magnetite nanocomposites show significant enhancements when compared with those of PPy without magnetite nanoparticles, in particular the conductivities of 36 wt % PPy/magnetite nanocomposites with 4‐nm magnetite nanoparticles are about six times in magnitude higher than those of PPy without magnetite nanocomposites. These results suggest that the tube‐like structures of 36 wt % PPy/magnetite nanocomposites may be served as conducting network to enhance the conductivity of nanocomposites. The magnetic properties of 24 and 36 wt % PPy/magnetitenanocomposites show ferromagnetic behavior and supermagnetism, respectively. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 1291–1300, 2008     

Molecular motion,morphology, and thermal properties of multiwall carbon nanotube/polysilsesquioxane composite

Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA)‐bridged polyorganosiloxane precursors have been prepared successfully by reacting diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A epoxy resin with 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane. Acid‐modified and unmodified multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) were dispersed in the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A‐bridged polyorganosiloxane precursors and cured to prepare the carbon nanotube/diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A‐bridged polysilsesquioxane (MWCNT/DGEBA‐PSSQ) composites. The molecular motion of MWCNT/DGEBA‐PSSQ nanocomposites was studied by high‐resolution solid‐state ¹³C NMR. Acid‐modification can improve the affinity between MWCNT and the polymer matrix. The molecular motion of the DGEBA‐PSSQ decreased with acid‐modified MWCNT content. However, when unmodified MWCNT was used, the molecular motion of the DGEBA‐PSSQ was increased. SEM and TEM microphotographs confirm that acid‐modified MWCNT exhibits better dispersion than unmodified MWCNT in DGBEA‐PSSQ. The dynamic mechanical properties of acid‐modified MWCNT/DGBEA‐PSSQ composites are more favorable than those of unmodified MWCNT. T_g of the DGEBA‐PSSQ decreased from 174.0 °C (neat DGEBA‐PSSQ) to 159.0 °C (1 wt % unmodified MWCNT) and 156.0 °C (1 wt % acid‐modified MWCNT). The storage modulus (at 30 °C) of the DGEBA‐PSSQ increased from 1.23 × 10⁹ Pa (neat DGEBA‐PSSQ) to 1.65 × 10⁹ Pa (1 wt % acid‐modified MWCNT). However, when unmodified MWCNT was used, the storage modulus of the DGEBA‐PSSQ decreased to 6.88 × 10⁸ Pa (1 wt % unmodified MWCNT). At high temperature, above 150 °C, storage modulus of nanocomposites was higher than that of neat polymer system. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 472–482, 2008     

Compatibilization level effects on the structure and mechanical properties of rubber‐modified polyamide‐6/clay nanocomposites

Exfoliated polyamide‐6 (PA6)/organically modified montmorillonite clay (OMMT) nanocomposites (PNs) were modified with partially maleinized styrene–ethylene/butadiene–styrene triblock copolymers (SEBS) at three maleinization levels in an attempt to link in these materials high toughness with appropriate small‐strain and fracture tensile properties. OMMT stayed only in the PA6 matrix, and no preferential location in the matrix/rubber interphase was observed. The increased dispersed phase size upon the addition of OMMT was attributed to interactions between maleic anhydride (MA) functionalized SEBS and the surfactant of OMMT. The rubber particle size generally decreased when the MA content of SEBS increased, and this indicated compatibilization. The subsequent good adhesion led to tough nanocomposites across a wide range of both strain rates and fracture modes. As the critical interparticle distance (τ_c) decreased with the MA content, and the other parameters that could influence the surface‐to‐surface mean interparticle distance did not change, it is proposed that in these PNs higher adhesion leads to a smaller τ_c value. Finally, the presence in the matrix of a nanostructured clay makes the rubber content necessary for the toughness jump to increase and τ_c to decrease. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 3611–3620, 2005     

Synthesis,morphology, and viscoelastic properties of cyanate ester/polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane nanocomposites

Cyanate ester (PT‐15, Lonza Corp) composites containing the inorganic–organic hybrid polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) octaaminophenyl(T₈)POSS [ 1 ; (C₆H₄NH₂)₈(SiO_1.5)₈] were synthesized. These PT‐15/POSS‐ 1 composites (99/1, 97/3, and 95/5 w/w) were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), transmission election microscopy (TEM), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, solvent extraction, and Fourier transform infrared. The glass‐transition temperatures (T_g's) of the composite with 1 wt % 1 increased sharply versus the neat PT‐15, but 3 and 5 wt % 1 in these cyanate ester composites depressed T_g. All the PT‐15/POSS composites exhibited higher storage modulus (E′) values (temperature > T_g) than the parent resin, but these values decreased from 1 to 5 wt % POSS. The loss factor peak intensities decreased and their widths broadened upon the incorporation of POSS. XRD, TEM, and IR data were all consistent with the molecular dispersion of 1 due to the chemical bonding of the octaamino POSS‐ 1 macromer into the continuous cyanate ester network phase. The amino groups of 1 reacted with cyanate ester functions at lower temperatures than those at which cyanate ester curing by cyclotrimerization occurred. In contrast to 1 , 3‐cyanopropylheptacyclopentyl(T₈)POSS [ 2 ; (C₅H₉)₇(SiO_1.5)₈CH₂CH₂CH₂CN] had low solubility in PT‐15 and did not react with the resin below or at the cure temperature. Thus, phase‐separated aggregates of 2 were found in samples containing 1–10 wt % 2 . Nevertheless, the T_g and E′ values (temperature > 285 °C) of these composites increased regularly with an increase in 2 . © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3887–3898, 2005     

Morphological and thermal properties of ABS/montmorillonite nanocomposites using two different ABS polymers and four different montmorillonite clays

ABS/Clay nanocomposites were prepared using two ABS with different Acrylonitrile (AN) contents and four montmorillonite clays; a natural clay (CNa+) and three modified clays, Cloisites 10A, 20A, and 30B. The composites were prepared in a twin‐screw extruder. Results were analyzed considering the effect of clay and ABS type, on the clay dispersion, intercalation and exfoliation, as well as on the storage modulus and thermal stability of the nanocomposites. XRD and TEM confirm that when using an ABS with higher AN content (ABS2), a better dispersion and intercalation–exfoliation can be obtained. Cloisites 20A and 30B, respectively the one with greater initial intergallery spacing, but lower polarity and with smaller inter‐gallery spacing but greater polarity, produce the ABS nanocomposites with the greater intergallery spacing. Both ABS polymers have similar storage modulus and T_g and in both cases, the modulus increases with the 4 wt % clay. This increase is greater with the modified clays and slightly greater with the ABS2. T_g, from tan δ, increases very little with the 4 wt % clay, but again, this is slightly greater with ABS2. TGA and flammability tests show that the dispersed clay enhances the thermal stability and that the ABS with higher AN content produces a greater increase in fire retardancy. Tests also show that the better thermal stability and fire retardancy is obtained with the Cloisites 20A or 30B. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 190–200, 2008     

Preparation and characterization of rigid poly(vinyl chloride)/MMT nanocomposites. II. XRD,morphological and mechanical characteristics

A Haake torque rheometer equipped with an internal mixer is used to study the influence of the amount of sodium montmorillonite (Na⁺‐MMT) and organically modified MMT (O‐MMT) on X‐ray diffraction (XRD), morphology, and mechanical characteristics of rigid poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC)/Na⁺‐MMT and PVC/O‐MMT nanocomposites, respectively. Results of XRD and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicate that MMT is partially encapsulated and intercalated in the rigid PVC/Na⁺‐MMT nanocomposites. However, results of XRD and TEM show MMT is partially intercalated and exfoliated in the rigid PVC/O‐MMT nanocomposites. Tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation at break of the rigid PVC/MMT nanocomposites were improved simultaneously with adding 1–3 wt % Na⁺‐MMT or O‐MMT with respect to that of pristine PVC. However, the addition of Na⁺‐MMT or O‐MMT should be kept as not more than 3 wt % to optimize the mechanical properties and the processing stability of the rigid PVC/MMT nanocomposites. SEM micrographs of the fractured surfaces of the rigid PVC/Na⁺‐MMT and PVC/O‐MMT nanocomposites both before and after tensile tests were also illustrated and compared. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 2145–2154, 2006     

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     

Dispersion of silica nanoparticles bearing perfluorohexyl units into fluorinated copolymers

This study aims at determining the compatibility behavior of nanoparticles surface with fluorinated matrices to obtain a homogenous dispersion and better composites properties. First, modified silica nanoparticles by C₆F₁₃I and C₆F₁₃‐C₂H₄‐SH led to various fluorinated silica of different massic concentrations and grafting rates. The dispersion of these nanoparticles (in 5 wt %) into molten poly(VDF‐co‐HFP) and poly(TFE‐co‐HFP) matrices were studied as well as the hydrophobic, mechanical, and thermal properties of both fluorinated copolymers and resulting composites. In both series, the storage modulus of nanocomposites increased while the melting (T_m) and decomposition (T_10%) temperatures varied with the polymer matrix. They increased for poly(VDF‐co‐HFP) composites (T_m= 134 to 144 °C and T_10%= 441 to 464 °C) but decreased for poly(TFE‐co‐HFP) nanocomposites (T_m= 276 to 268 °C and T_10%= 488 to 477 °C). © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 1512–1522     

Preparation,Tg improvement,and thermal stability enhancement mechanism of soluble poly(methyl methacrylate) nanocomposites by incorporating octavinyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes

The soluble poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐octavinyl‐polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane) (PMMA–POSS) hybrid nanocomposites with improved T_g and high thermal stability were synthesized by common free radical polymerization and characterized using FTIR, high‐resolution ¹H NMR, ²⁹Si NMR, GPC, DSC, and TGA. The POSS contents in the nanocomposites were determined based on FTIR spectrum, revealing that it can be effectively adjusted by varying the feed ratio of POSS in the hybrid composites. On the basis of the ¹H NMR analysis, the number of the reacted vinyl groups on each POSS molecules was determined to be about 6–8. The DSC and TGA measurements indicated that the hybrid nanocomposites had higher T_g and better thermal properties than the pure PMMA homopolymer. The T_g increase mechanism was investigated using FTIR, displaying that the dipole–dipole interaction between PMMA and POSS also plays very important role to the T_g improvement besides the molecular motion hindrance from the hybrid structure. The thermal stability enhances with increase of POSS content, which is mainly attributed to the incorporation of nanoscale inorganic POSS uniformly dispersed at molecular level. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5308–5317, 2007     

Preparation,characterization, and properties of novolac‐type phenolic/SiO2 hybrid organic–inorganic nanocomposite materials by sol–gel method

This article describes the preparation of novolac‐type phenolic resin/silica hybrid organic–inorganic nanocomposite, with a sol–gel process. The coupling agent was used to improve the interface between the organic and inorganic phases. The effect of the structure of the nanocomposite on its physical and chemical properties is discussed. The coupling agent reacts with the resin to form covalent bonds. The structure of the modified hybrid nanocomposites was identified with a Fourier transform infrared spectroscope. The silica network was characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (²⁹Si NMR). Results revealed that Q₄ (tetrasubstituted) and T₃ (trisubstituted) are the dominant microstructures. The size of the silica in the phenolic resin was characterized with a scanning electron microscope. The size of the particles of inorganic silica in the modified system was less than 100 nm. The nanocomposite exhibited good transparency. Moreover, the thermal and mechanical properties exhibited significant improvement. The modified hybrid composite exhibited favorable thermal properties. The temperature at which a weight loss of 5% occurred increased from 281 to 350 °C. The flexural strength increased by 6–30%. The limiting oxygen index of the nanocomposite reached 37, and the Underwriters Laboratory test was 94V‐0. Consequently, these materials possess excellent flame‐retardant properties. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 905–913, 2003     

Crystallization,mechanical, and fracture behaviors of spherical alumina‐filled polypropylene nanocomposites

The objectives of this paper are to study the crystallization behavior and fracture characteristics of spherical alumina (Al₂O₃) nanoparticle‐filled polypropylene (PP) composites. Nanocomposites containing 1.5–5.0 wt % of the Al₂O₃ nanoparticles (pretreated with silane coupling agent) were prepared for this investigation. Wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) results show that a small amount of β‐crystal of PP forms after adding the Al₂O₃ nanoparticles. According to differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) and optical microscopy (OM) measurements, the Al₂O₃ nanoparticles make PP spherulite size reduced and crystallization temperature of PP enhanced, by acting as effective nucleating agents. However, there are no obvious differences in the crystallinity for the virgin PP and the Al₂O₃/PP nanocomposites. Tensile test shows that both the Young's modulus and the yield strength of the Al₂O₃/PP nanocomposites increase with the particle content increasing, suggesting that the interfacial interaction between the nanoparticles and PP matrix is relatively strong. Under quasi‐static loading rate, the fracture toughness (K_IC) of the Al₂O₃/PP nanocomposites was found to be insensitive to nanoparticle content. Under impact loading rate, the Izod impact strength and the impact fracture toughness (G_c) indicate that the impact fracture toughness increases initially with the addition of 1.5 wt % of the Al₂O₃ nanofillers into the PP matrix. However, with the further addition of up to 3.0 and 5.0 wt % nanoparticles, both the Izod impact strength and impact G_c change very little. By observing the single‐edge‐double‐notch (SEDN) specimens with optical microscopy after four point bending (4PB) tests, it was found that numerous crazes and microcracks form around the subcritical crack tip, indicating that crazing and microcracking are the dominant fracture mechanisms. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation confirms this result. In addition, when the strain rate of 4PB tests was increased, some wave‐like branches were formed along the fractured edge for the Al₂O₃/PP nanocomposites. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 3652–3664, 2005     

Effect of the premelting temperature and sample thickness on the polymorphic behavior of syndiotactic polystyrene/clay nanocomposites

X‐ray diffraction methods and differential scanning calorimetry thermal analysis have been used to investigate the structural changes of syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS)/clay nanocomposites. sPS/clay nanocomposites have been prepared by the mixing of sPS polymer solutions with organically modified montmorillonite. X‐ray diffraction data and differential scanning calorimetry results indicate that the dominating crystal forms and their relative fractions in sPS and sPS/clay nanocomposites are different for various premelting temperatures (T_max's). Higher T_max's favor the formation of the thermodynamically more stable β‐crystalline form, and its relative fraction has been obtained from the X‐ray diffraction data in the range of 11.5–13°. The intensity of the X‐ray diffraction data in the range of 11.5–13° decreases as the thickness of sPS/clay nanocomposites decreases from 150 to 20 μm. At the same time, the intensity of the X‐ray data in the range of 6–7° becomes sharper as the thickness of sPS/clay nanocomposites decreases. The calculation ratio based on the peak intensities at 6.2 and 6.8° for sPS/clay nanocomposites of equal thickness and crystallinity in the pure β and α forms has also been determined in this study. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 1730–1738, 2003