In Situ Formation of Silica Nanoparticles Decorated with Well-Defined Homopolymers and Block Copolymers

Grafting non-polar polymer chains on the surface of polar nanoparticles (e.g., silica) is an effective way to enhance particle/matrix interactions and thus promote their homogeneous dispersion within a matrix, which leads improved mechanical properties. Current grafting methods have not yet produced with well-defined polymers high density. Here, we employed anionic polymerization vacuum techniques synthesize ω-triethoxysilyl polystyrene (PS-TEOS) PS-b-PI macromonomers followed by hydrolysis/condensation macromonomers, leading in situ formation grafted (grafting through) silica either PS or polystyrene-b-polyisoprene (PS-b-PI) chains. The molecular characteristics precursors PS-TEOS PS-b-PI-TEOS were determined proton nuclear magnetic resonance, size exclusion chromatography, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight. (PS@SiO2 NPs) (PS-b-PI@SiO2 was verified Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 29Si solid-state NMR, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic light scattering. Blends PS@SiO2 commercially available PS-b-PI@SiO2 anionically synthesized thermoplastic elastomer (PS-b-PI-b-PS) obtained melt extrusion solution evaporation. role polymer@SiO2 properties morphological features matrices examined tensile testing scanning microscopy. proposed general method controls weight, chemical composition, particle size, density effectively improves two families PS-based nanocomposites.