Effect of network mesh size on the thermo-mechanical properties of epoxy nanocomposites with the heavier homologue of POSS, the inorganic butylstannoxane cages

Abstract

International audienceA novel tin-based FOSS analogue, butylstannoxane dodecamer, was incorporated into epoxy networks with strongly different mesh sizes in comparison to the nanofiller dimensions. The stannoxane cage is especially attractive due to its anti-oxidative effect, which is based on oxidative crosslinking reactions. It can also cause additional reinforcement via nanofiller units' oligomerization. The strongest mechanical reinforcement was observed in nanocomposites with a network mesh width close, but somewhat larger, than was the stannoxane cage size. In the narrow-mesh-matrix, the large rigid nanofiller causes a plastification, due to sterical impossibility of formation of some crosslinks around the filler units. The strongest anti-oxidative effect of the stannoxane was observed in the matrix with the widest mesh, which had the longest polypropylene oxide chains, and hence the largest number of sites potentially reacting with the stannoxane in oxidative crosslinking reactions. The homogeneity of the prepared nanocomposites was evaluated by TEM

Self-Healing and Super-Elastomeric PolyMEA-co-SMA Nanocomposites Crosslinked by Clay Platelets

“…Their very high specific surface is very useful [ 16 ] for achieving strong interface interactions at small filler loadings. In cases of sufficiently small dimensions, optical transparency additionally can be preserved [ 6 , 17 ], while the desired chemical [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ], optical [ 28 , 29 ], electrical [ 30 , 31 ], magnetic [ 32 , 33 ], or gas barrier [ 34 , 35 , 36 ] properties can be introduced into the matrix. In the super-elastomers studied in this work (as well as in the mentioned Haraguchi gels), the inorganic filler plays the role of a key structural element—poly-functional crosslink—in their sophisticated architecture.…”

Novel Tough and Transparent Ultra-Extensible Nanocomposite Elastomers Based on Poly(2-methoxyethylacrylate) and Their Switching between Plasto-Elasticity and Viscoelasticity

“…Inorganic nanofillers in general can greatly improve the mechanical properties of a given polymer matrix, also in the swollen state, via interface interactions, for which their high specific surface is very advantageous [ 16 ]. If all nanofiller dimensions are sufficiently small, optical transparency additionally can be preserved [ 6 , 17 ], while specific chemical [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ], optical [ 28 , 29 ], electrical [ 30 , 31 ], magnetic [ 32 , 33 ], or gas barrier [ 34 , 35 , 36 ] properties can be lent to the matrix. Additionally, in the hyper-elastic gels studied in this work, the inorganic filler plays the role of a key structural unit (multi-functional crosslink) in the complex architecture, so that the heterogeneity on the nano-scale does not reduce the extensibility as would be expected in simple materials, but conversely increases it greatly (architecture effect).…”

Ultra‐extensible solvent‐free elastomers based on nanocomposite poly(2‐methoxyethylacrylate)/clay xerogels

“…Inorganic nanofillers can greatly improve the mechanical properties of a given polymer matrix, also in the swollen state, via specific interface interactions, for which their high specific surface is very advantageous 5 . If all nanofiller dimensions are sufficiently small, optical transparency additionally can be preserved, 6,7 while specific chemical, 8–17 optical, 18,19 electrical, 20,21 magnetic, 22,23 or gas barrier 24–26 properties can be lent to the matrix. As a nanofiller phase introduces heterogeneity, albeit only on the nanometre scale, it seldom improves the extensibility of simple materials.…”