Elastic Properties of Ordered Block Copolymer / Nanoparticle Composites

ORAL

Abstract

A hybrid self-consistent field/density functional theory has been used to predict the elastic moduli of a diblock copolymer melt with added spherical nanoparticles with an affinity for one block. It was found that the addition of nanoparticles lowers the tensile modulus of the composite material, while the shear modulus was unaffected. Explanations for the physical origins of these results will be given.

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Authors

  • Russell Thompson

    University of Waterloo

  • Kim Rasmussen

    Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Turab Lookman

    Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, NM, Los Alamos National Lab, Los Alamos National Laboratory