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FT–NIR as a determination method for reinforcement of polymer nanocomposites
Author(s) -
Laske Stephan,
Kracalik Milan,
Feuchter Michael,
Pinter Gerald,
Maier Günther,
Märzinger Wolfgang,
Haberkorn Michael,
Langecker Günter Rüdiger
Publication year - 2009
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.30765
Subject(s) - nanocomposite , materials science , composite material , polymer , near infrared spectroscopy , composite number , reinforcement , optics , physics
Layered silicates as nanoscale fillers have a great potential in improving polymer material properties. Depending on the composite structure (agglomerated, intercalated, or exfoliated) a significantly higher level of reinforcement of the virgin polymer can be achieved with a very small amount of filler. The morphology of the composites is usually characterized by XRD and microscopic methods (e.g., transmission electron microscopy). But the level of reinforcement of nanocomposites is not always proportional to morphology (delamination level of the silicate layers). A new approach for characterizing the material reinforcement level as a consequence of melt quality is to correlate the results of extensional rheometry (level of melt strength) with those of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. The advantage of the NIR technique is the suitability for in‐line implementation by using quartz based optics and optical fibers for the signal transfer from the measuring probe to the NIR spectrometer. The presented results show a direct correlation between the reinforcement level determined by rheotens measurements and the data analyzed from off‐line NIR measurements. The results of the chemometric analysis of the NIR data shows that this in‐line capable optical method provides quantitative information on the quality of the nanocomposite. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009