Molecular Mechanics of Polymer Nanocomposites: Enhancement of Macroscopic Properties

摘要: Polymer nanocomposites have been a central theme in nanotechnology over the last decade. This activity was determined primarily by expectations generated by early experiments showing significant property enhancement associated with the addition of a small fraction of nano-fillers in thermoplastics. A large number of experimental, numerical and theoretical investigations of the physical basis of these enhancements followed. Today it is generally accepted that, while the fillers do not modify chemically the matrix material, the mechanical properties of the polymer are nevertheless altered. This chapter reviews some of the numerical and experimental works aimed at developing this basic understanding. We focus on modifications of the chain structure and relaxation time in the vicinity of impenetrable fillers, the residence time of polymeric chains on filler surfaces in melts, and the formation of a …