Title

Dynamics of entangled chains in polymer nanocomposites

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-9-2011

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate the chain dynamics within the polymer matrix in a nanocomposite with nonattractive interactions, ranging from the initial Rouse dynamics to entanglement controlled motion. The use of neutron spin echo spectroscopy made it possible to directly observe the single chain dynamic structure factor of a polymer chain in the environment of the nanocomposite. The study investigated poly(ethylene-alt-propylene) (PEP) filled with hydrophobically modified silica particles as a function of filler concentration. The researchers engaged in the study first focused on the short time dynamics that needed to reflect the underlying Rouse motion of the chains when analyzing the data. Strong evidence for chain disentanglement at high particle fractions was found and quantified by an increase of the respective confinement length dtube using a mean field approach.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Macromolecules

First Page

5857

Last Page

5860

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