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Impact of nanoparticle surface modification on the mechanical properties of polystyrene-based nanocomposites

GND
1157032850
Affiliation/Institute
Institute for Particle Technology, TU Braunschweig
Kockmann, Alexander;
GND
1157033172
Affiliation/Institute
Institute for Particle Technology, TU Braunschweig
Porsiel, Julian Cedric;
GND
115703327X
Affiliation/Institute
Institute for Particle Technology, TU Braunschweig
Saadat, Reza;
ORCID
0000-0002-7499-4947
Affiliation/Institute
Institute for Particle Technology, TU Braunschweig
Garnweitner, Georg

Nanocomposites consisting of metal oxide nanoparticles in a polymeric matrix enable the improvement of material properties and have become highly relevant for numerous applications, such as in lightweight structures with an enhanced Young's modulus for automotive and aircraft applications. The mechanical properties can be adjusted by controlling the amount of particles, their degree of agglomeration and their direct interaction with the matrix. Whilst the latter aspect is particularly promising to achieve high reinforcement at low filler contents, the mechanisms behind this effect are still not fully understood, preventing the rational design of a particle–polymer system with customized properties. In this work, a two-step modification strategy is used to tailor the particle–matrix interface via chemical groups bound to the surface of zirconia nanoparticles. Two modifications featuring terminal vinyl functions as potentially polymerizable groups are compared. Moreover, an inert reference modification is used to determine the influence of the terminal vinylic groups. In contrast to previous studies, all groups are covalently linked to the particle surface, thereby excluding effects such as detachment or weak coordination and ensuring that changes in the mechanical properties can be correlated to chemical groups on the particle surface. After embedding modified particles in polystyrene, the mechanical properties as well as the cross-linkage between the particles and the matrix are characterized, clearly showing the significant impact of a covalent particle–matrix linkage, with an increase of the Young's modulus by up to 28% with only 3 wt% filler content.

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