Saiter A, Prevosto D, Passaglia E, Couderc H, Delbreilh L, Saiter JM. Cooperativity length scale in nanocomposites: interfacial and confinement effects.
PHYSICAL REVIEW. E, STATISTICAL, NONLINEAR, AND SOFT MATTER PHYSICS 2013;
88:042605. [PMID:
24229204 DOI:
10.1103/physreve.88.042605]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2013] [Revised: 09/10/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Interfacial and confinement effects on the evolution of cooperativity on approaching the glass transition have been studied in poly(propylenecoethylene) functionalized with diethylmaleate, polyethylene 1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate glycol and their nanocomposites with montmorillonite. A small increase of the structural dynamic cooperativity, a weak alteration of the temperature dependence of the characteristic relaxation frequency, and no changes in the glass transition temperature observed in poly(propylenecoethylene)-based samples can be rationalized in terms of interfacial interactions between polymer and exfoliated clay. On the other hand, confinement of polymer chains in the galleries of clay (intercalated nanocomposite) produces a strong reduction of cooperativity, of the temperature dependence of the characteristic relaxation frequency, and of the glass transition temperature in polyethylene 1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate glycol samples. Finally, by investigating the temperature dependence of a generalized fragility and of cooperativity, we evidenced that fragility of glass formers is determined not only by cooperativity.
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