Preparation and photochromism of nanocomposite thin film based on polyoxometalate and polyethyleneglycol

A photochromic nanocomposite based on Keggin structure phosphomolybdic acid (PMoA) well dispersed in polyethyleneglycol (PEG) was fabricated. TEM image showed that PMoA nanoparticles with narrow size distribution were finely dispersed in polymer matrix. FT-IR results showed that the Keggin geometry of polyoxometalates was still preserved inside the composites and strong coulombic interaction was built between PMoA and polymer matrix. Under UV irradiation, the film was reduced photochemically to yield a blue species, which was in accordance with a charge-transfer mechanism.     

Crystallization and thermoelectric behavior of conductive-filler-filled poly(ε-caprolactone)/poly(vinyl butyral)/montmorillonite nanocomposites

Crystallization and thermoelectric properties of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)/poly(vinyl butyral) (PVB)/montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposites containing carbon black (CB) have been studied as a functions of a small amount of amorphous PVB content and a wide range of molecular weight of PVB. X-ray diffraction data of PCL/PVB/MMT nanocomposites indicates most of the swellable silicate layers are exfoliated and randomly dispersed into PCL/PVB system. The band spacings of PCL spherulites in PCL/PVB/MMT nanocomposites decrease with increasing PVB content, and this indicates that increasing the PVB content greatly shortens the period of lamellar twisting. The presence of 1 wt% MMT and higher molecular weight of PVB also shorten the period of PCL lamellar twisting. Nucleation and crystallization parameters, such as growth rate G and Avrami exponent n, can be determined by using POM and DSC isothermally crystallized at 41 °C. For samples with the same CB content, the intensity of positive temperature coefficient (PTC) (I_PTC, defined as the ratio of peak resistivity to resistivity at room temperature) of the nanocomposites was increased as the content and the molecular weight of PVB increases. The change of the PTC property related to the morphological difference (i.e. period of lamellar twisting) in the nanocomposites can be discussed.     

A Silicon–Silica Nanocomposite Material

The synthesis and characterization of a novel silicon–silica nanocomposite material are reported. A self‐assembly method allows the encapsulation of silicon nanoclusters within the channels of a periodic mesoporous silica thin film. The result is the formation of a silicon–silica nanocomposite film with bright, room‐temperature photoluminescence in the visible range, and a nanosecond luminescence lifetime. The properties of the nanocomposite material have been studied by several analytical techniques, which collectively show the existence within the channels of non‐diamondoid‐structure‐type silicon nanoclusters with various hydrogenated silicon sites. It is estimated that the silicon nanoclusters in the silica mesoporous films occupy up to 39 % of the accessible pore volume. The nanocomposite film shows improved resistance to air oxidation compared to crystalline silicon. The high loading and chemical stability to oxidation under ambient conditions are important advantages in terms of the development of silicon‐based light‐emitting diodes from this class of materials.     

Synthesis and properties of polystyrene/graphite nanocomposites

In this paper, graphite/polystyrene nanocomposite is synthesized by in situ polymerization of styrene in a tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution system of potassium (K)-THF-graphite intercalation compound (GIC). K-THF-GIC has proved to initiate polymerization of styrene by the anionic mechanism. Due to the interfacial interaction between the graphite nanolayers and the polymer, the composites exhibit higher glass transition temperature and higher thermal stability when compared to polystyrene. The percolation threshold in the conductivity of the composites is lesser than 8.2 wt% and the dielectric constant can reach as high as 136.     

Thermal and mechanical properties of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)/polycarbonate composites

A series of composite materials were produced incorporating polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) derivatives into polycarbonate (PC), by melt blending. Significant differences in compatibility were observed depending on the nano-scale filler's specific structure: trisilanol POSS molecules generally provided better compatibility with PC than fully-saturated cage structures, and phenyl-substituted POSS grades were shown to be more compatible with PC than fillers with other functional groups. Trisilanolphenyl-POSS/PC composites possess the best overall performance among the POSS materials tested. The high compatibility between the trisilanolphenyl-POSS and polycarbonate matrix results in generation of transparent samples up to 5 wt% POSS content. Slightly enhanced mechanical properties including tensile and dynamic mechanical modulus are observed with the increase of trisilanolphenyl-POSS loading at the cost of decreasing ductility of the nanocomposites. Importantly, upon orientation of the PC/POSS nanocomposite, crystallization of POSS within the oriented material results—this observation is consistent with a growing number of observations which suggest that ‘bottom-up’ formation of structures incorporating multiple POSS cages result from orientation of these nanocomposites, and that the hybrid organic-inorganic inclusions may be at the heart of observed nano-scale reinforcement.     

Polyethylene-layered silicate nanocomposites prepared by the polymerization-filling technique: synthesis and mechanical properties

Polyethylene-layered silicate nanocomposites were prepared by the in situ intercalative polymerization of ethylene by the so-called polymerization-filling technique and analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis and tensile testing. Non-modified montmorillonite and hectorite were first treated by trimethylaluminum-depleted methylaluminoxane before being contacted by a Ti-based constrained geometry catalyst. The nanocomposite was formed by addition and polymerization of ethylene. In the absence of a chain transfer agent, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene was produced. The tensile properties of these nanocomposites were poor and essentially independent of the nature and content of the silicate. Upon hydrogen addition, the molecular weight of the polyethylene was decreased with parallel improvement of the tensile and shear moduli, in relation to the filler content. The exfoliation of the layered silicates was confirmed by XRD analysis and TEM observation. The mechanical kneading of the molten nanocomposites resulted in the partial collapse of the exfoliated structure driven by the thermodynamic stability of the layered filler.     

Nanocomposite matrix for increased fibre composite strength

A new type of three-phase thermoplastic composite has been made, consisting of a main reinforcing phase of woven glass or carbon fibres and a PA6 nanocomposite matrix. Nanocomposites have the potential to improve the matrix dominated flexural and compressive strength by increasing the matrix modulus. Good quality fibre composites have been made with several types of PA6 nanocomposite and unfilled PA6 in combination with glass and carbon fibre reinforcement. Flexural tests on commercial PA6 fibre composites have shown the decrease of the flexural strength upon increasing temperature and this has been compared with the decrease of the matrix modulus. The nanocomposites used in this research have moduli that are much higher than unfilled PA6, also above T_g and in moisture conditioned samples. The strength of glass fibre composites can be increased by more than 40% at elevated temperatures and the temperature range at which a certain minimum strength is present can be increased by 40-50 °C. Carbon fibre composites also show significant improvements at elevated temperatures, although not at room temperature. The advantage of the use of nanocomposites instead of other polymers to improve the fibre composite properties is that the properties can be improved without any change in the processing conditions.     

Preparation and flame resistance properties of revolutionary self-extinguishing epoxy nanocomposites based on layered double hydroxides

Layered double hydroxides/epoxy (LDHs/EP) nanocomposites were prepared from organo-modified LDHs, a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A monomer (DGEBA) and amine curing agents. The organo-modified LDHs were obtained by ionic exchange of a magnesium-aluminum carbonate LDH in an acid medium. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy showed a dispersion of the layers at a nanometer scale, indicating the formation of LDH/EP nanocomposites. The thermal degradation and flame resistance properties of LDH/EP nanocomposites, montmorillonite-epoxy (MMT/EP) nanocomposites, LDH/EP microcomposites and aluminum hydroxide-epoxy microcomposites were compared by thermogravimetrical analyses, simultaneous thermal analyses, UL94 and cone calorimeter tests. Only LDH/EP nanocomposites showed self-extinguishing behavior in the horizontal UL94 test; LDH/EP microcomposites and MMT/EP nanocomposites samples burned completely showing that the unique flame resistance of LDH/EP nanocomposites is related to both the level of dispersion and the intrinsic properties of LDH clay. Furthermore, cone calorimeter revealed intumescent behavior for LDH/EP nanocomposites and a higher reduction in the peak heat release rate compared to MMT/EP nanocomposites.     

Creep and physical aging behaviour of PA6 nanocomposites

The creep and physical aging behavior of various types of PA6 nanocomposites and unfilled PA6 are described. After annealing far above T_g the samples were quenched to room temperature and tested after various ageing times. The creep compliance shows a significant reduction with the addition of exfoliated layered silicate to the matrix polymer. The shape of the creep curves of the nanocomposites is similar to unfilled PA6 and time—ageing time superposition is possible with all materials. The shift rate for superposition is in the same range, but slightly higher in nanocomposites. The creep behavior of nanocomposites conditioned with an equilibrium amount of moisture and dry samples at elevated temperatures shows that the effect of nanofillers is much stronger under these conditions.     

Morphology and properties of nanocomposites formed from ethylene/methacrylic acid copolymers and organoclays

Nanocomposites were prepared by melt mixing ethylene/methacrylic acid copolymers and organoclays, which were compared to equivalent composites prepared from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and a sodium ionomer of poly(ethylene-co-methacrylic acid). The effects of matrix modification and organoclay structure on the morphology and properties of these nanocomposites were evaluated using stress-strain analysis, wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), and transmission electron microscopy coupled with particle analysis. With all four polymers, the use of a two-tailed organoclay, M₂(HT)₂, led to the formation of more exfoliated nanocomposites than a one-tailed organoclay, M₃(HT)₁. Nanocomposites prepared from ethylene/methacrylic acid copolymers revealed better exfoliation compared to similar composites prepared from LDPE. It seems that the presence of relatively small quantities (1.3-3.1 mol%) of the polar methacrylic acid monomer aids in improving the organoclay exfoliation efficiency of these polymers. Nanocomposites prepared from the sodium ionomer of poly(ethylene-co-methacrylic acid) exhibited the highest levels of organoclay exfoliation compared to all other polymers examined in this study. However, from the observations made in this study, it was not possible to determine conclusively the relative interaction of carboxyl acid groups versus the salt form with the organoclay and, thus, their influence on exfoliation; additional studies will be needed to reach a conclusion on this important point.