Melt Dynamics of Grafted Nanoparticles

Polymer grafted nanoparticles, at high surface grafting densities tend to form ordered structures that results in arrested relaxations of the hybrid systems. Addition, of comparable molecular weight free polymers, results in a swelling of the ordered structure and ultimately the dispersion of the grafted nanoparticles in the polymer melt. The linear elastic moduli and terminal relaxation behavior of these systems are found to be similar to that of star polymers. The non-linear properties are distinct and represent unique coupling of structure and dynamics.