A novel approach to prepare PBT nanocomposites with elastomer‐modified SiO 2 particles

Poly(butylenes terephthalate) (PBT)/SiO 2 nanocomposites with uniform dispersion, strong interfacial adhesion, and improved mechanical properties have been prepared by a novel approach. Ethylene‐methyl acrylate‐glycidyl methacrylate (E‐MA‐GMA) elastomer chains were first chemically grafted onto the surface of SiO 2 nanoparticles. Fourier transform infrared spectra result shows that elastomer‐modified SiO 2 nanoparticles exhibit absorption at 2963–2862 cm −1 of the stretching modes of CH, which suggests the reaction between the hydroxyl groups of SiO 2 surface and epoxy groups of E‐MA‐GMA. And the binding energy of Si2p and O1s of the elastomer‐modified SiO 2 shifts to lower binding energy, which further confirms the formation of SiOC bonds. This surface treatment allows SiO 2 nanoparticles homogeneously dispersing in PBT matrix. The morphology with loose aggregates contains networked SiO 2 particles with an interparticle distance ranging from 0 to 30 nm. As a result, the storage modulus and the tensile properties of PBT/E‐MA‐GMA‐SiO 2 nanocomposites are higher than those of pure PBT and PBT with untreated SiO 2 . The incorporation of E‐MA‐GMA‐modified SiO 2 particles increases the tensile strength and modulus to 58.4MPa and 2661MPa respectively, which is 8% and 16% higher than those of pure PBT. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers