Modelling the Influence of Nanoparticles in the Phase Behaviour of an Epoxy/Polystyrene Mixture, 2 : Size and Concentration Dependences

✍ Scribed by Juan E. Figueruelo; Clara M. Gómez; Isidro S. Monzó; Concepción Abad; Agustín Campos

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2007
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 481 KB
• Volume: 16
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1022-1344
• DOI: 10.1002/mats.200600089

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

The influences of nanoparticle size and concentration on the thermodynamic behaviour of epoxy/polystyrene blends are evaluated in the framework of Ginzburg's simple analytical theory. Two approaches have been employed: NPEPO (for particles coated with epoxy groups) and NPFEN (for particles coated with phenyl groups). Using NPEPO, the particles are found to prefer the phase richer in epoxy, whereas the opposite occurs for NPFEN. The particles size significantly influences blend compatibility. When the particle radius R~p~ is about the same size as the radius of gyration R~g~ of PS, the compatibility of blends increases with particle concentration, whereas for R~p~ > R~g~, higher particle concentrations do not clearly stabilize the polymeric blends.

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