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Use of Flory–Huggins parameters in the characterization of polymer–filler compositions
Author(s) -
Milczewska Kasylda,
Voelkel Adam
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.27397
Subject(s) - inverse gas chromatography , polymer , filler (materials) , characterization (materials science) , materials science , polymer blend , flory–huggins solution theory , composite material , polymer chemistry , chemical engineering , copolymer , engineering , nanotechnology
Any quantitative information on the strength of interactions between an inorganic filler and polymer is substantial for the future application of the composite. The magnitude of adhesion of two phases may be deduced from results collected by various experimental techniques. A Flory–Huggins interaction parameter (χ 23 ′ ) was earlier successfully used in the characterization of polymer blends. We propose to express the magnitude of modified filler/polymer interactions by using χ 23 ′ . It was calculated from retention data of test solutes during an inverse gas chromatography (IGC) experiment. IGC is an extension of conventional gas chromatography in which a nonvolatile material to be investigated is immobilized on a column. Parameters determined during IGC experiments may be successfully used in the characterization of polymers and their blends, composites, fillers, and other materials and the quantification of the interactions between the components of polymer mixtures, including the interactions between polymeric components and filler surfaces. Here this method is applied to the characterization of a series of poly(ether urethane)/modified carbonate–silicate filler systems containing different amounts of a filler (5, 10, and 20 wt %). The possibilities and limitations of the IGC method are shown. The usefulness of some methods for minimizing the Δχ effect (the dependence of χ 23 ′ on the type of test solute) is examined and discussed. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008