Interplay between polymer chain conformation and nanoparticle assembly in model industrial silica/rubber nanocomposites

The question of the influence of nanoparticles (NPs) on chain dimensions in polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) has been treated mainly through the fundamental way using theoretical or simulation tools and experiments on well-defined model PNCs. Here we present the first experimental study on the influence of NPs on the polymer chain conformation for PNCs designed to be as close as possible to industrial systems employed in the tire industry. PNCs are silica nanoparticles dispersed in a styrene-butadiene-rubber (SBR) matrix whose NP dispersion can be managed by NP loading with interfacial coatings or coupling additives usually employed in the manufacturing mixing process. We associated specific chain (d) labeling, and the so-called zero average contrast (ZAC) method, with SANS, in situ SANS and SAXS/TEM experiments to extract the polymer chain scattering signal at rest for non-cross linked and under stretching for cross-linked PNCs. NP loading, individual clusters or connected networks, as well as the influence of the type, the quantity of interfacial agent and the influence of the elongation rate have been evaluated on the chain conformation and on its related deformation. We clearly distinguish the situations where the silica is perfectly matched from those with unperfected matching by direct comparison of SANS and SAXS structure factors. Whatever the silica matching situation, the additive type and quantity and the filler content, there is no significant change in the polymer dimension for NP loading up to 15% v/v within a range of 5%. One can see an extra scattering contribution at low Q, as often encountered, enhanced for non-perfect silica matching but also visible for perfect filler matching. This contribution can be qualitatively attributed to specific h or d chain adsorption on the NP surface inside the NP cluster that modifies the average scattering neutron contrast of the silica cluster. Under elongation, NPs act as additional cross-linking junctions preventing chain relaxation and giving a deformation of the chain with the NP closer to a theoretical phantom network prediction than a pure matrix.

Revealing nanocomposite filler structures by swelling and small-angle X-ray scattering

Polymer nanocomposites are used widely, mainly for the industrial application of car tyres. The rheological behavior of such nanocomposites depends in a crucial way on the dispersion of the hard filler particles – typically silica nanoparticles embedded in a soft polymer matrix. It is thus important to assess the filler structure, which may be quite difficult for aggregates of nanoparticles of high polydispersity, and with strong interactions at high loading. This has been achieved recently using a coupled TEM/SAXS structural model describing the filler microstructure of simplified industrial nanocomposites with grafted or ungrafted silica of high structural disorder. Here, we present an original method capable of reducing inter-aggregate interactions by swelling of nanocomposites, diluting the filler to low-volume fractions. Note that this is impossible to reach by solid mixing due to the large differences in viscoelasticity between the composite and the pure polymer. By combining matrix crosslinking, swelling in a good monomer solvent, and post-polymerization of these monomers, it is shown that it is possible to separate the filler into small aggregates. The latter have then been characterized by electron microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering, confirming the conclusions of the above mentioned TEM-SAXS structural model applied directly to the highly loaded cases.

Mechanism of aggregate formation in simplified industrial silica styrene-butadiene nanocomposites: effect of chain mass and grafting on rheology and structure

The formation of aggregates in simplified industrial styrene-butadiene nanocomposites with silica filler has been studied using a recent model based on a combination of electron microscopy, computer simulations, and small-angle X-ray scattering. The influence of the chain mass (40 to 280 kg mol(-1), PI < 1.1), which sets the linear rheology of the samples, was investigated for a low (9.5 vol%) and high (19 vol%) silica volume fraction. 50% of the chains bear a single graftable end-group, and it is shown that the (chain-mass dependent) grafting density is the structure-determining parameter. A model unifying all available data on this system is proposed and used to determine a critical aggregate grafting density. The latter is found to be closely related to the mushroom-to-brush transition of the grafted layer. To our best knowledge, this is the first comprehensive evidence for the control of the complex nanoparticle aggregate structure in nanocomposites of industrial relevance by the physical parameters of the grafted layer.

Studying Twin Samples Provides Evidence for a Unique Structure-Determining Parameter in Simplifed Industrial Nanocomposites

The structure of styrene-butadiene (SB) nanocomposites filled with industrial silica has been analyzed using electron microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering. The grafting density per unit silica surface ρ_D3 was varied by adding graftable SB molecules. By comparing the filler structures at fixed ρ_D3 (so-called "twins"), a surprising match of the microstructures was evidenced. Mechanical measurements show that ρ_D3 also sets the modulus: it is then possible to tune the terminal relaxation time of nanocomposites via the chain length while leaving the modulus and structure unchanged.