Polyethylene-Modified Nano Silica and Its Fine Dispersion in Polyethylene

Bioinspired Organic Porous Coupling Agent for Enhancement of Nanoparticle Dispersion and Interfacial Strength

Composite materials have significantly advanced with the integration of inorganic nanoparticles as fillers in polymers. Achieving fine dispersion of these nanoparticles within the composites, however, remains a challenge. This study presents a novel solution inspired by the natural structure of Xanthium. We have developed a polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM)-based porous coupling agent, named PCA. PCA's rigid backbone structure enhances interfacial interactions through a unique intermolecular interlocking mechanism. This approach notably improves the dispersion of SiO2 nanoparticles in various organic solvents and low-polarity polymers. Significantly, PCA-modified SiO2 nanoparticles embedded in polyisoprene rubber showed enhanced mechanical properties. The Young's modulus increases to 30.7 MPa, compared to 5.4 MPa in hexadecyltrimethoxysilane-modified nanoparticles. Further analysis shows that PCA-modified composites not only become stiffer but also gain strength and ductility. This research demonstrates a novel biomimetic strategy for enhancing interfacial interactions in composites, potentially leading to stronger, more versatile composite materials.

Poly(ethylene oxide) grafted silica nanoparticles: efficient routes of synthesis with associated colloidal stability

In this study, poly(ethylene oxide) monomethyl ether (MPEO) of molecular weight of 5000, 10 000, and 20 000 g mol-1 were grafted onto colloidal silica nanoparticles (NPs) of a 27.6 nm diameter using two distinct "grafting to" processes. The first method was based on the coupling reaction of epoxide-end capped MPEO with amine-functionalized silica NPs, while the second method was based on the condensation of triethoxysilane-terminated MPEO onto the unmodified silica NPs. The influence of PEO molecular weight, grafting process and grafting conditions (temperature, reactant concentration, reaction time) on the PEO grafting density was fully investigated. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to determine the grafting density which ranged from 0.12 chains per nm2 using the first approach to 1.02 chains per nm2 when using the second approach. 29Si CP/MAS NMR characterization indirectly revealed that above a grafting density value of 0.3 PEO chains per nm2, a dendri-graft PEO network was built around the silica surface which was composed of PEO chains directly anchored to the silica surface and those grafted to silica NPs by intermediate of >CH-O-Si- bonds. The colloidal stability of the particles during different steps of the grafting process was characterized by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). We have found that the colloidal systems are stable whatever the achieved grafting density due to the strong repulsions between the NPs, with the strength of repulsion increasing with the molecular weight of the grafted MPEO chains.

Novel Hybrid Biomass Anti-Aging Filler for Styrene-Butadiene Rubber Composites with Antioxidative and Reinforcing Properties

Antioxidants are normally utilized to extend the service life of polymers due to the strong reducibility of the phenolic hydroxyl group of the hindered phenol structure. Inspired by this characteristic, we have introduced green tea polyphenol (TP) supported on a silica surface containing considerable phenolic hydroxyl groups to obtain a novel biomass anti-aging filler (BAF, denoted as silica-s-TP) to reinforce and improve the anti-aging property of rubber composites. The applying of silica-s-TP to enhance the thermal-oxidative stability and ultraviolet light (UV) aging resistance of styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) was evaluated. The hybrid biomass anti-aging filler could not only uniformly disperse in the rubber matrix, giving rise to the excellent mechanical properties, but also enhance the properties of thermal-oxidative stability and UV aging resistance with the increasing silica-s-TP content of SBR distinctly. This study provides a mild and environmentally friendly strategy to prepare the functional biomass filler, which could be applied as not only a reinforcement filler but also an anti-aging additive in "green rubber".

Effects of Surface Functional Groups on the Adhesion of SiO2 Nanospheres to Bio-Based Materials

The interactions between nanoparticles and materials must be considered when preparing functional materials. Although researchers have studied the interactions between nanoparticles and inorganic materials, little attention has been paid to those between nanoparticles and bio-based protein materials, like leather. In this study, organically modified silica nanospheres (SiO₂ nanospheres) loaded with rose fragrance were prepared using (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES), (3-mercaptopropyl) triethoxysilane (MPTES), or 3-(2, 3-epoxypropyloxy) propyl triethoxysilane (GPTES) using the sol-gel method. To study the interactions between the modified SiO₂ nanospheres and leather, a non-cross-linking adsorption experiment was conducted. According to the Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherm calculation, we found that the adsorption process of leather fiber and organically modified silica nanospheres is physical. The average adhesion energies of APTES-, MPTES-, and GPTES-modified SiO₂ nanospheres on the leather are 1.34016, 0.97289, and 2.09326 kJ/mol, respectively. The weight gain, adsorption capacity, and average adhesion energy show that the modified SiO₂ nanospheres can be adsorbed on leather in large quantities. The sensory evaluation confirmed that GPTES-modified SiO₂ nanospheres endowed the leather with an obvious rose aroma.

Polyethylene-Grafted Gold and Silver Nanoparticles Using Catalyzed Chain Growth (CCG)

We report an efficient synthesis route for the formation of gold/silver-core⁻PE-shell nanohybrids in a simple self-assembly approach using PE with strong aurophilicity and argentophilicity, via thiol- and trithiocarbonate terminated moieties. This united the unique properties of polyethylene (PE) with gold and silver nanoparticles, using the well-defined end-group design of PE. These nanocomposites showed a similar solubility as PE, as confirmed by dynamic light scattering, and could be fully incorporated into a polyethylene matrix with different particle contents, as visualized by transmission electron microscopy. Using UV/vis-spectroscopy, we observed reversible, thermoresponsive aggregation/deaggregation properties in the nanohybrids, validating the strong and effective anchoring of PE on gold/silver surfaces.

Supported Ionic Liquid Silica as Curing Agent for Epoxy Composites with Improved Mechanical and Thermal Properties

The present study aims to improve the mechanical properties of epoxy composite by incorporating supported ionic liquid silica (IL-silica). The IL-silica not only showed improved interfacial interaction and reinforcement, but also served as cure agent of epoxy composites. The differential scanning calorimetry analysis revealed that epoxy composites could be successfully cured with IL-silica without any routine curing agents. IL-silica/epoxy composites presented higher mechanical and thermal properties compared with epoxy composite containing un-functionalized silica (u-silica). The dynamic mechanical analysis showed that the storage modulus of composites significantly increased with the addition of IL-silica in comparison to that with added u-silica, as well as the variation of Tg parameter. The incorporation of IL-silica simultaneously enhanced the tensile strength, toughness, and thermal stability of the epoxy composites. The considerable improvements in mechanical and thermal properties are ascribed to the improved dispersion of IL-silica and the enhanced interfacial interactions between epoxy matrix and IL-silica by strong covalent bonding, which results in an effective load transfer.