Multiscale Structure, Interfacial Cohesion, Adsorbed Layers, and Thermodynamics in Dense Polymer-Nanoparticle Mixtures

So Youn Kim, Kenneth S. Schweizer, and Charles F. Zukoski

Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 225504 – Published 22 November 2011

Abstract

We establish the existence and size of adsorbed polymer layers in miscible dense nanocomposites and their consequences on microstructure and the bulk modulus. Using contrast-matching small-angle neutron scattering to characterize all partial collective structure factors of polymers, particles, and their interface, we demonstrate qualitative failure of the random phase approximation, accuracy of the polymer reference site interaction model theory, ability to deduce the adsorbed polymer layer thickness, and high sensitivity of the nanocomposite bulk modulus to interfacial cohesion.

Received 19 July 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.225504

Authors & Affiliations

So Youn Kim¹, Kenneth S. Schweizer^1,2,3,*, and Charles F. Zukoski^1,2,3,4,†

¹Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
²Department of Materials Science, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
³Frederick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
⁴Science and Engineering Research Council, Agency for Science Technology and Research, Singapore