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Nanoconfined segmental dynamics in miscible polymer blend nanocomposites: the influence of the geometry of nanoparticles

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Abstract

The influence of nanoconfinement on segmental relaxation behavior of poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(styrene-ran-acrylonitrile) miscible blend and its nanocomposites with spherical and layered nanoparticles have been investigated. Dynamic mechanical analysis was employed to examine the effect of geometry of nanoparticles on the temperature dependence and relaxation function breadth of segmental dynamics (α-relaxation) in the glass transition region. The maxima of the loss modulus curves were used to fit to the Vogel–Fulcher–Tamman equation to describe the temperature dependence of the characteristic relaxation times. Furthermore, the T g-normalized semi-logarithmic Arrhenius plots (fragility plots) were exploited to indicate the changes in cooperative segmental motions across the glass transition. The master curves for relaxation modulus were also constructed for each sample as a function of time using the time–temperature superposition principle. The investigated nanocomposites showed a narrower segmental dispersion in the glass transition region compared to the neat systems. The relaxation modulus master curves were fitted by the Kohlrausch–Williams–Watts (KWW) function. It was observed that the distribution parameter of segmental relaxation time increased with addition of nanoparticles which was correlated with a decrease in fragility index. In addition, the increase of the KWW distribution parameter (β KWW) for spherical silica nanocomposites was less than that for nanocomposites prepared with layered silicates (organoclay).

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Acknowledgments

Partial financial supports provided by Iranian Nanotechnology Initiative and Vice President for Research and Technology of the Amirkabir University of Technology-Mahshahr branch are gratefully appreciated. We also thank Mr. Javad Seyfi from the University of Tehran for his helpful discussions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Polymer Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Mahshahr Branch, Mahshahr, Iran

    Ehsan Chehrazi

  2. Polymer Division, School of Chemistry, University College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    Nader Taheri Qazvini

  3. Biomaterials Research Center (BRC), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    Nader Taheri Qazvini

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  1. Ehsan Chehrazi
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  2. Nader Taheri Qazvini
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Correspondence to Nader Taheri Qazvini.

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Chehrazi, E., Taheri Qazvini, N. Nanoconfined segmental dynamics in miscible polymer blend nanocomposites: the influence of the geometry of nanoparticles. Iran Polym J 22, 613–622 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13726-013-0160-4

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