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Ethylene‐Octene Copolymer‐Nanosilica Nanocomposites: Effects of Epoxy Resin Functionalized Nanosilica on Morphology, Mechanical, Dynamic Mechanical and Thermal Properties
Author(s) -
Reddy Chaganti Srinivasa,
Patra Prabir Kumar,
Das Chapal Kumar
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
macromolecular symposia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.257
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-3900
pISSN - 1022-1360
DOI - 10.1002/masy.200950315
Subject(s) - materials science , copolymer , nanocomposite , dynamic mechanical analysis , thermogravimetric analysis , octene , composite material , glass transition , differential scanning calorimetry , ultimate tensile strength , thermal stability , scanning electron microscope , polymer , chemical engineering , engineering , thermodynamics , physics
A comparative study of the structural, thermal, mechanical and thermomechanical properties of ethylene‐octene copolymer 1 Ethylene‐octene copolymer is produced using Dow's INSITETM ™ constrained geometry catalyst and process technology. ENGAGE the trade name of this copolymer. ( mPE ) 2 This copolymer will be represented as mPE . nanocomposites synthesized with pure nanosilica ( NS ) and nanosilica‐functionalized with diglycidyl ether of bisphenol‐A ( ENS ) has been reported. These nanocomposites were prepared using “melt mixing” method at a constant loading level of 2.5 wt. %. The effects of pure nanosilica ( NS ) and epoxy resin‐functionalized‐nanosilica ( ENS ) on the above mentioned properties of ethylene‐octene copolymer were analyzed by wide‐angle‐x‐ray diffractometer (WAXD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), thermo gravimetric analyzer (TGA), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). TEM studies have shown a better dispersion of nanoparticles in case of ethylene‐octene copolymer‐epoxy resin‐functionalized‐nanosilica nanocomposite ( mPE‐ENS ) than that of ethylene‐octene copolymer‐nanosilica nanocomposite ( mPE‐NS ). The tensile tests show that organic modification of nanosilica particles brings up an appreciable increase in yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and elongation at break of the polymer. DMA studies have shown an increase in the storage modulus and glass transition temperature for mPE‐ENS with respect to mPE‐NS . Further, the TGA results have shown a higher thermal stability for mPE‐ENS in comparison to mPE‐NS .