Interface of polyimide-silica grafted with different silane coupling agents: Molecular dynamic simulation

Molecular dynamics simulations for interfacial structure and affinity between carboxylic acid-modified Al2O3 and polymer melts

Controlling the dispersion state of nanoparticles in a polymer matrix is necessary to produce polymer nanocomposites. The surface modification of nanoparticles is used to enable their dispersion in polymers. Moreover, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are useful for revealing the interfacial properties between nanoparticles and polymers to aid in the design of materials. In this study, the effect of surface coverage, modifier length, and polymer species on the interfacial structure and affinity between surface-modified Al2O3 and polymer melts were investigated using all-atom MD simulations. Hexanoic, decanoic, and tetradecanoic acids were used as surface modifiers, and polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were used as polymers. The work of adhesion Wadh and the work of immersion Wimm were selected as quantitative measures of affinity. Wadh was calculated using the phantom-wall approach, and Wimm was calculated by simply subtracting the surface tension of polymers γL from Wadh. The results showed that Wadh and Wimm were improved by surface modification with low coverage, owing to a good penetration of the polymer. The effect of modifier length on Wadh and Wimm was small. Whereas Wadh increased in the following order: PP < PS < PMMA, Wimm increased as follows: PMMA < PS < PP. Finally, the trend of Wadh and Wimm was organized using the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter χ between the modifier and the polymer. This study demonstrates that the interfacial affinity can be improved by tuning the surface coverage and modifier species depending on the polymer matrix.

Research on Friction and Wear Properties of Rubber Composites by Adding Glass Fiber during Mixing

GF/rubber composites have sound insulation characteristics, heat resistance, good corrosion resistance, and high mechanical strength. The compounding machine’s long working hours will inevitably wear the metal on the end face of the compounding machine. The wear of the end face metal will increase the gap between the chamber and the end face, which will lead to material leakage, reduce the mixing effect, and eventually affect the performance of GF/rubber composites. To ensure the implementation of GF/rubber composites, it is necessary to study the frictional wear behavior of GF/rubber composites on metals. In this paper, the effect of blending rubber with different amounts of GF on the frictional wear of metal on the end face was analyzed from the perspective of the formulation process, and the ratio of corrosion wear and abrasive wear was calculated for the first time.

The Effect of Different Dosages of TESPT on Metal Friction and Metal Wear in the Mixing Process

Studies show that the dispersion of silica in the mixing process is an important factor affecting the wear of the mixing chamber. As the most important mixing equipment, the long operational life of the internal mixer will cause wear in the rotor and chamber of the internal mixer. This wear increases the gap between the rotor and chamber of the internal mixer, reduces the mixing performance, weakens the dispersion of packing, and adversely affects the quality of the rubber produced. Therefore, it is important to investigate the metal wear in the mixing process. This article examines the effect of the addition of different amounts of silane coupling agents on metal friction and wear during the mixing process. The silane coupling agent has two functions. The first is to make the surface of the silica hydrophobic, enabling it to combine the inorganic matrix of the silica with the organic matrix of the rubber; the second is to inhibit the aggregation of the silica in the rubber. In the present study, we examine (1) the influence of different formulations on the friction and wear of the metal in the mixing chamber from the perspective of formulation technology, and (2) the correlation between corrosion wear and abrasive wear. It is found that a rubber compound with 6 phr of TESPT has the lowest metal wear and that adding more TESPT does not affect the degree of metal wear. As the amount of TESPT increases, the proportion of abrasive wear decreases, while the proportion of corrosive wear increases, reaching a maximum of 20.7%. In our study we found that abrasive wear is the predominant wear mechanism of a rubber compound on metal. In contrast, the corrosive wear caused by high-temperature water vapor still occupies a large proportion of the total wear. Therefore, improving silica dispersion and reducing abrasive wear are extremely important methods to protect the mixing chamber. However, the corrosion of metals by high-temperature water vapor should also be considered when preparing for the mixing process.

Molecular dynamics investigation of structural and mechanical properties of silica nanorod reinforced dental resin composites

In this work, molecular dynamics simulations are conducted to investigate the structural and mechanical properties of dental materials, i.e., the silica nanorod reinforced Bis-GMA/TEGDMA resin composite. The effects of loading content and size of the silica nanorods on the composite stiffness were performed by examining resin chain conformation, hydrogen bonds and matrix/filler binding energy. It is revealed that the presence of the silica nanorod causes polymer chain expansion, endowing the resins with higher stiffness. Moreover, the volumetric hydrogen bonds and binding energy increase considerably with the loading content, but decrease gradually with the diameter or show almost independence of the length. Furthermore, the composite moduli were quantified by the micromechanics models and the transverse moduli were well predicted by the Counto model, signifying a perfect bonding between the matrix and nanorod. The chain expansion and energetic matrix/filler interactions are believed to contribute to the significant mechanical reinforcement of the composites with the loading content. However, the length of the nanorod has a little effect on the composite moduli due to the unaltered interfacial interaction. In contrast, a smaller diameter is supposed to give a larger modulus, and this is not observed in this work due to the synergic effects of improved matrix/filler interaction and actual reduced filler volume fraction. The mechanical enhancement by the rod-like structures is more influenced by the loading content, but less so by the size of the nanorod, and it also exhibits superior mechanical performance as compared to nanoparticles. The findings thus extend the current understanding of the nanostructure and mechanical properties of silica nanorod reinforced dental resin composites from an atomic/molecular perspective.

Evaluation of the work of adhesion at the interface between a surface-modified metal oxide and an organic solvent using molecular dynamics simulations

Advancing the practical applications of surface-modified nanoparticles requires that their dispersion in solvents can be controlled. The degree of dispersion depends on the affinity between surface-modified nanoparticles and solvents, which can be quantified using the work of adhesion at the interface. Herein, the affinity between a surface-modified inorganic solid and an organic solvent was evaluated by calculating the work of adhesion at the interface. The phantom-wall method, which is a thermodynamic route for evaluating the work of adhesion at an interface using molecular dynamics simulations, was applied to the decanoic acid-modified Al₂O₃/hexane interface. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed for flat interface systems to focus on the interactions between substances that affect the affinity on the surface. As a result, the surface coverage of decanoic acid was found to affect the work of adhesion, with a maximum value of 45.66 ± 0.75 mJ/m² at a surface coverage of 75%. An analysis of the mass density profiles of Al₂O₃, decanoic acid, and hexane in the vicinity of the interface showed that the increase in the work of adhesion with the surface coverage was due to the penetration of hexane molecules into the decanoic acid layer on the Al₂O₃ surface. At a surface coverage of 75%, some hexane molecules were trapped in the layer of oriented decanoic acid molecules. These results suggested that the interfacial affinity can be enhanced by controlling the surface modification so that the solvent can penetrate the layer of the modifier.

Agglomeration mechanism and restraint measures of SiO2 nanoparticles in meta-aramid fibers doping modification via molecular dynamics simulations

In this work, the nanoparticle agglomeration process has been studied via molecular dynamics simulations to uncover the agglomeration mechanism. When the nanoparticles were far from each other in an aqueous solution, they mainly diffused because of influence of water molecules. When nanoparticles were close to each other, hydrogen bonds between the nanoparticles actively contributed to their agglomeration. In addition, the agglomeration of nanoparticles was also related to their sizes and concentration. A higher nanoparticle concentration led to an increased probability of nanoparticle contact and easier agglomeration. Smaller nanoparticles could diffuse quickly and aggregate more easily, hence resulting in agglomeration. Additionally, to restrain the agglomeration of silicon dioxide nanoparticles, promote compatibility between the inorganic silicon dioxide nanoparticles and organic polymer meta-aramid fibers, and strengthen the interaction between the two molecules, 3-aminopropyltriethyloxy silane was used for chemical modification of the surface of the nanoparticles. By comparing the interaction energy and hydrogen bond energy between interfaces before and after modification, a grafting density of 502% (1/Ų) was achieved, which was comparatively the best. The results of this work provide a valuable basis for further discussion and improvement of the performance of meta-aramid fiber insulation via doping hybridization with silicon dioxide nanoparticles.

Micro-scale effects of nano-SiO2 modification with silane coupling agents on the cellulose/nano-SiO2 interface

In this study, molecular dynamics simulations were used to investigate the micro-scale effects of modification of nano-SiO₂ with commonly used silane coupling agents (KH550, KH560, KH570, and KH792) on the cellulose/nano-SiO₂ interface. The relative optimum silane coupling agent and grafting density for nano-SiO₂ modification to improve the cellulose/nano-SiO₂ interface were determined. The results showed that at the same grafting density, modification of nano-SiO₂ with KH792 yielded the highest interfacial binding energy and binding energy density, the largest number of hydrogen bonds at the cellulose/nano-SiO₂ interface, the strongest binding to the cellulose chains, and the largest overlapping area at the cellulose/nano-SiO₂ interface. We found that the non-bonding interaction energy played a decisive role in the energy of the model system and the interfacial interaction force mainly consisted of van der Waals forces and the hydrogen-bonding energy. When silane coupling agents with amino groups (KH550 and KH792) were used to modify nano-SiO₂, the number of hydrogen bonds at the cellulose/nano-SiO₂ interface was larger than that for unmodified nano-SiO₂. When silane coupling agents without amino groups (KH560 and KH570) were used to modify nano-SiO₂, the number of hydrogen bonds at the cellulose/nano-SiO₂ interface was lower than the case for unmodified nano-SiO₂. Nano-SiO₂ modification with various amounts of KH792 was investigated. The results showed that the interfacial bonding energy increased with grafting density. When the grafting density was 1.57 nm^-2, the interfacial bonding energy and number of hydrogen bonds formed at the cellulose/nano-SiO₂ interface was relatively stable, which indicates that the interface had reached a relatively stable state. Modification of nano-SiO₂ with KH792 achieved the greatest improvement of the cellulose/nano-SiO₂ interface; this interface reached a relatively stable state when the grafting density of KH792 was 1.57 nm^-2.

High-Performance Chromatographic Characterization of Surface Chemical Heterogeneities of Fluorescent Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Core-Shell Silica Nanoparticles

In contrast to small-molar-mass compounds, detailed structural investigations of inorganic core-organic ligand shell hybrid nanoparticles remain challenging. The assessment of batch-reaction-induced heterogeneities of surface chemical properties and their correlation with particle size has been a particularly long-standing issue. Applying a combination of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) to ultra-small (<10 nm diameter) poly(ethylene glycol)-coated (PEGylated) fluorescent core-shell silica nanoparticles, we elucidate here previously unknown surface heterogeneities resulting from varying dye conjugation to nanoparticle silica cores and surfaces. Heterogeneities are predominantly governed by dye charge, as corroborated by molecular dynamics simulations. We demonstrate that this insight enables the development of synthesis protocols to achieve PEGylated and targeting ligand-functionalized PEGylated silica nanoparticles with dramatically improved surface chemical homogeneity, as evidenced by single-peak HPLC chromatograms. Because surface chemical properties are key to all nanoparticle interactions, we expect these methods and fundamental insights to become relevant to a number of systems for applications, including bioimaging and nanomedicine.

Effect of Aminosilane Coupling Agents with Different Chain Lengths on Thermo-Mechanical Properties of Cross-Linked Epoxy Resin

In this paper, a molecular dynamics simulation method was used to study the thermo-mechanical properties of cross-linked epoxy resins doped with nano silica particles that were grafted with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, and 3-[2-(2-aminoethylamino)ethylamino]-propyl-trimethoxysilane with different chain lengths. Firstly, a set of pure epoxy resin models, and four sets of SiO₂/EP composite models were established. Then, a reasonable structure was obtained through a series of optimizations using molecular dynamics calculations. Next, the mechanical properties, hydrogen bond statistics, glass transition temperature, free volume fraction, and chain spacing of the five models were studied comparatively. The results show that doped nano silica particles of surfaces grafted with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, and 3-[2-(2-aminoethylamino)ethylamino]-propyl-trimethoxysilane with different chain lengths enhanced mechanical properties such as elastic modulus, shear modulus, and volume modulus obviously. The glass transition temperature increased by 15⁻16 K, 40⁻41 K, and 24⁻27 K, respectively. Finally, the data show that the cross-linked epoxy resin modified by nanoparticles grafted with N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyl trimethoxysilane had better effects for improving thermo-mechanical properties by the comparatively studying the five groups of parameter models under the same conditions.

Anomalous diffusion of polystyrene from an attractive substrate based on all-atom simulation

The diffusion of polystyrene (PS) polymer chains from a hydroxy (-OH)-terminated Si surface with different grafting densities φG is studied based on all-atom simulation. Our particular attention is paid to the impact of the attractive substrate on the diffusive and configurational properties of PS. Our simulation results uncover a very novel and unexpected modification to polymer diffusion with the increment of φG, namely, the diffusion is slowed down most significantly from a substrate with moderate grafting densities, while in lower or full grafting cases, the diffusive dynamics is even facilitated rather than retarded. The underlying mechanism is investigated in terms of energy and conformational change in detail. Surprisingly, we obtain a consistent scenario for diffusion. Under moderate grafting densities, the energy required to be overcome for diffusion is relatively large. In addition, PS chains are more likely to be in a stretched configuration subject to a slower relaxation. These facts can account for the hindered diffusion. While under lower or full grafting densities, the energy required for diffusion becomes even smaller than the ungrafted situation. Also, PS chains prefer a shrinking configuration undergoing faster relaxation. Consequently, the diffusion of PS is reasonably promoted.