Dynamics and macroscopic properties of one component polymer nanocomposites
ORAL · Invited
Abstract
Conventional nanocomposites consist of nanoparticles and polymer matrix mixed together. The main complexity, especially at relatively high filler volume concentrations, is related to the heterogenous and uncontrolled distribution of the nanoparticles in the polymer matrix. Recently, polymer hybrids such as the novel one component nanocomposites (OCNC) have drawn much attention [1,2]. OCNC consist of nanoparticles that are grafted with polymer chains without any matrix chains [3]. The grafted chains demonstrate confined dynamics which is related to the macroscopic properties.
The dynamics of grafted polymer chain is significantly influenced by the molecular weight (MW), temperature and the grafting density. The microscopical properties studied by combination of QENS, NSE and BDS [4,5] are related to the macroscopic properties [6]. We observed a MW dependent dynamic in densely grafted polymers. Our analysis reveals that the apparently different effect of grafting on the segmental dynamics of different MW grafted polymers is a consequence of different contributions from faster and slower segments. Broadly, we study the effects of grafting in different parts of the tethered chain using neutrons and other techniques.
Very recently we investigated OCNC by means of small angle scattering and neutron spin echo [7]. The OCNC were realized by self-assembly of block-copolymers and subsequent cross-linking of the core. Even though the grafting density was low (about 0.3 nm-2), our results show that the monomeric friction increases significantly close to the grafting point and decreases to constant friction in the direction of the chain ends. Furthermore, we demonstrate that dynamic heterogeneity needs to be assumed, in order to describe the experimental spectra. We relate this heterogeneity to the structural peculiarities of the dense core arrangement.
References
[1] M. Bockstaller, Prog. Polym. Sci. 2015, 40, 1.
[2] D. Vlassopoulos and M. Cloitre, Curr. Opin. Colloid Interface Sci. 2014, 19 (6), 561.
[3] J. Che et al. Macromolecules 2016, 49, 1834 (2016).
[4] A. Sharma et al. Phys. Rev. Mater. 2022, 6 (1), L012601.
[5] C. Mark et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 2017, 119 (4), 047801.
[6] A. Sharma et al. Macromolecules 2023, 56 (13), 4952–4965.
[7] M. Kruteva et al. 2025, Soft Matter, 2025,21, 4378-4392
The dynamics of grafted polymer chain is significantly influenced by the molecular weight (MW), temperature and the grafting density. The microscopical properties studied by combination of QENS, NSE and BDS [4,5] are related to the macroscopic properties [6]. We observed a MW dependent dynamic in densely grafted polymers. Our analysis reveals that the apparently different effect of grafting on the segmental dynamics of different MW grafted polymers is a consequence of different contributions from faster and slower segments. Broadly, we study the effects of grafting in different parts of the tethered chain using neutrons and other techniques.
Very recently we investigated OCNC by means of small angle scattering and neutron spin echo [7]. The OCNC were realized by self-assembly of block-copolymers and subsequent cross-linking of the core. Even though the grafting density was low (about 0.3 nm-2), our results show that the monomeric friction increases significantly close to the grafting point and decreases to constant friction in the direction of the chain ends. Furthermore, we demonstrate that dynamic heterogeneity needs to be assumed, in order to describe the experimental spectra. We relate this heterogeneity to the structural peculiarities of the dense core arrangement.
References
[1] M. Bockstaller, Prog. Polym. Sci. 2015, 40, 1.
[2] D. Vlassopoulos and M. Cloitre, Curr. Opin. Colloid Interface Sci. 2014, 19 (6), 561.
[3] J. Che et al. Macromolecules 2016, 49, 1834 (2016).
[4] A. Sharma et al. Phys. Rev. Mater. 2022, 6 (1), L012601.
[5] C. Mark et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 2017, 119 (4), 047801.
[6] A. Sharma et al. Macromolecules 2023, 56 (13), 4952–4965.
[7] M. Kruteva et al. 2025, Soft Matter, 2025,21, 4378-4392
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Presenters
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Margarita Kruteva
- Jülich Centre for Neutron Science