Interfacial effects on crystallization behavior of polymer nanocomposites with polymer‐grafted nanoparticles

Abstract

The addition of three‐dimensional nanoparticles (NPs) to polymers is known to impart unique physicochemical properties attractive for fundamental research and novel industrial applications. In the case of polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) with semicrystalline polymers, the properties and applicability of PNCs are dominated by crystallization behavior, which has been reported to depend on the interfacial effect. Grafting polymer chains to the surface of NPs provides a specific way to control the polymer‐nanoparticle interactions. This review has focused on two main aspects to realize the desirable properties of PNCs with polymer‐grafted NPs (PGNPs). On one hand, a broad range of factors that influence the polymer‐nanoparticle interactions and the spatial dispersion of NPs were discussed, including the grafting density, molecular weight of grafting chains and matrix chains, NPs size, as well as chemical nature of grafted chains. On the other hand, the consequences of having states with tunable interfacial structures on crystallization properties of PNCs were elucidated. The characteristics of PNCs involving PGNPs have shown to be different and interesting compared to bare NPs. Especially, the role of polymer‐nanoparticle interaction and the mechanism involved in the property improvement of PNCs are highlighted and expected to aid in the design of PNCs.

Direct Relationship between Dispersion and Crystallization Behavior in Poly(ethylene oxide)/Poly(ethylene glycol)-g-Silica Nanocomposites

“…This current work is motivated by the conjecture that the factors influencing the spatial distribution of PGNPs could also determine the mechanism and the kinetics of polymer crystallization in semicrystalline PNCs. 16 A recent study has shown that polyethylene grafted maghemite NPs (PE-g-maghemite) can be well-dispersed in a PE matrix at any P/N ratio, providing the PNCs with excellent thermomechanical properties and crystallization ability. 17 The incorporation of longer grafted chains in poly(L-lactic acid) grafted silica (PLLA-g-SiO 2 ) has been found to increase the nucleating effect of these PGNPs on the PLLA matrix even at low σ.…”