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Aligned Nafion® Nanocomposites: Preparation and Morphological Characterization
Author(s) -
Karthikeyan C. S.,
Schossig M.,
Radovanovic E.,
Gonçalves M. C.,
Wittich H.,
Schulte K.,
Nunes S. P.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
macromolecular materials and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.913
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1439-2054
pISSN - 1438-7492
DOI - 10.1002/mame.200390010
Subject(s) - materials science , nanocomposite , nafion , ionomer , montmorillonite , composite number , composite material , transmission electron microscopy , casting , electric field , scanning electron microscope , polyurethane , chemical engineering , polymer , nanotechnology , copolymer , electrode , chemistry , physics , electrochemistry , quantum mechanics , engineering
A novel nanocomposite based on Nafion® (ionomer) and a layered silicate is studied. An innovative approach of processing a composite under electric field to induce orientation of the inorganic filler was carried out and accomplished in the present work. The morphology of oriented composites was analyzed by scanning electric potential microscopy (SEPM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Films based on both plain ionomer and composite displayed fine contrast in SEPM, differentiating the phases, which could not be achieved using conventional atomic force microscopy. The orientation of the silicates in the composites is evident from the SEPM picture.AFM of Nafion®/montmorillonite composite films prepared by solution casting under electric field (Image obtained by SEPM).