Effects of Size and Aggregation/Agglomeration of Nanoparticles on the Interfacial/Interphase Properties and Tensile Strength of Polymer Nanocomposites

Abstract

In this study, several simple equations are suggested to investigate the effects of size and density on the number, surface area, stiffening efficiency, and specific surface area of nanoparticles in polymer nanocomposites. In addition, the roles of nanoparticle size and interphase thickness in the interfacial/interphase properties and tensile strength of nanocomposites are explained by various equations. The aggregates/agglomerates of nanoparticles are also assumed as large particles in nanocomposites, and their influences on the nanoparticle characteristics, interface/interphase properties, and tensile strength are discussed. The small size advantageously affects the number, surface area, stiffening efficiency, and specific surface area of nanoparticles. Only 2 g of isolated and well-dispersed nanoparticles with radius of 10 nm (R = 10 nm) and density of 2 g/cm3 produce the significant interfacial area of 250 m2 with polymer matrix. Moreover, only a thick interphase cannot produce high interfacial/interphase parameters and significant mechanical properties in nanocomposites because the filler size and aggregates/agglomerates also control these terms. It is found that a thick interphase (t = 25 nm) surrounding the big nanoparticles (R = 50 nm) only improves the B interphase parameter to about 4, while B = 13 is obtained by the smallest nanoparticles and the thickest interphase.

Effect of hydroxyapatite filler concentration on mechanical properties of poly (methyl methacrylate) denture base

“…Since there was a large amount of agglomerates at higher HA loading, they act as obstructions to chains movement which initiate failure under stress. It is believed that, agglomerates turn out to be as stress concentration and increase stresses in composites and initiate cracks more rapidly compared to unfilled samples [46]. The increase in filler loading does not necessarily lead to an increase in strength.…”

Nanoparticles as Anti-Microbial, Anti-Inflammatory, and Remineralizing Agents in Oral Care Cosmetics: A Review of the Current Situation

“…NP morphology and size distribution may also be key factors for innovative oral care applications, as they are described as strategical parameters in other application fields dealing with nanometer-size particles [15][16][17][18]. Indeed, the expected nanometer-size effect on NP properties is generally claimed to be more efficient, since the size distribution is narrow, and the shape is homogeneous.…”

Titanium Nanorods Loaded PCL Meshes with Enhanced Blood Vessel Formation and Cell Migration for Wound Dressing Applications

“…Further increase in TNR loading resulted in the reduction of tensile strength due to the agglomeration of the TNR nanofillers in PCL matrix which might have weekend the polymer–filler interaction and prevented stress transfer between the polymer and the filler . At the low loading of TNR, polymer matrix could effortlessly transfer the stress to the TNR filler, which increased the tensile strength of the meshes . Thus, at a lower loading, TNR could disperse uniformly in PCL matrix and resulted in the increase in the interfacial area for stress transfer from the PCL matrix to the TNR and provided good mechanical properties .…”