Anomalous Molecular Weight Dependence Reveals the Origin of Mechanical Enhancement in Polymer Nanocomposite

Fuente: arXiv
Enregistré dans:
Détails bibliographiques
Auteurs principaux: Kong, Tae Yeon, Kim, So Youn
Format: Preprint
Publié: 2025
Sujets:
Accès en ligne:
Tags: Ajouter un tag
Pas de tags, Soyez le premier à ajouter un tag!
_version_ 1866909454566424576
author Kong, Tae Yeon
Kim, So Youn
author_facet Kong, Tae Yeon
Kim, So Youn
contents Polymers at the interface exhibit frustrated chain conformation distinct from the bulk, impacting particle dispersion and properties of polymer nanocomposites (PNCs). Utilizing bimodal molecular weight (MW) PNCs, we observed unusual chain elongation of interfacial polymers, which promotes networked structures at low particle loadings. Paradoxically, reducing the average MW in bimodal PNCs significantly enhances the shear modulus by up to 103 times, challenging the conventional preference for higher MW in property enhancement. The mechanical reinforcement, aided by stretched chains, manifests when the short chain is substantially shorter than the long chain (Rg ratio >~2), indicating a universal stretching factor of 2.3.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2501_06803
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Anomalous Molecular Weight Dependence Reveals the Origin of Mechanical Enhancement in Polymer Nanocomposite
Kong, Tae Yeon
Kim, So Youn
Soft Condensed Matter
Materials Science
Polymers at the interface exhibit frustrated chain conformation distinct from the bulk, impacting particle dispersion and properties of polymer nanocomposites (PNCs). Utilizing bimodal molecular weight (MW) PNCs, we observed unusual chain elongation of interfacial polymers, which promotes networked structures at low particle loadings. Paradoxically, reducing the average MW in bimodal PNCs significantly enhances the shear modulus by up to 103 times, challenging the conventional preference for higher MW in property enhancement. The mechanical reinforcement, aided by stretched chains, manifests when the short chain is substantially shorter than the long chain (Rg ratio >~2), indicating a universal stretching factor of 2.3.
title Anomalous Molecular Weight Dependence Reveals the Origin of Mechanical Enhancement in Polymer Nanocomposite
topic Soft Condensed Matter
Materials Science
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.06803