Crystallization of poly(ethylene oxide) embedded with surface‐modified SiO2 nanoparticles. Issue 7 (6th November 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, Eunwoo; Hong, Jin‐Yong; Ungar, Goran; Jang, Jyongsik
• Is Part Of: Polymer international. Volume 62:Issue 7(2013:Jul.)
• Page Start: 1112
• Page End: 1122
• Publication Date: 2012-11-06
• Subjects: Plastics -- Periodicals; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; 547.7
• DOI: 10.1002/pi.4402
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-8103

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <bold>The crystallization of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) in the presence of silica nanoparticles (SiO₂ NPs) was investigated in terms of heterogeneous nucleation of SiO₂ NPs using polarizing optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The content and surface functionality of SiO₂ NPs were considered as the main factors affecting crystallization, and the effect of annealing time and temperature was also examined. The SiO₂ NPs acted as heterogeneous nucleates during the crystallization process, thereby enhancing the nucleation density and limiting the spherulitic growth rate. A kinetics study of non‐isothermal crystallization showed that the crystallization rate of 5 wt% SiO₂/PEO nanocomposite was <italic>ca</italic> 2.1 times higher than that of neat PEO. In addition, among various surface‐functionalized SiO₂ nanoparticles, alkyl‐chain‐functionalized SiO₂ NPs were favorable for achieving a higher crystallization rate due to the enhanced compatibility between the SiO₂ NPs and PEO chains. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry</bold> </p> </abstract>