title: Chain conformations and bound-layer correlations in polymer nanocomposites.
abstract: Small angle neutron scattering studies on polystyrene loaded with spherical silica nanoparticles under contrast-matched conditions unequivocally show that chain conformations follow unperturbed Gaussian statistics independent of chain molecular weight and filler composition. Liquid state theory calculations are consistent with this conclusion and also predict filler-induced modification of interchain polymer correlations which have a distinctive scattering signature that is in nearly quantitative agreement with our observations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180, USA.
authors.forename: Sudeepto
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: Yuping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Sanat K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Hoichang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Amitabh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bansal
authors.forename: Derek L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Justin B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Hooper
authors.forename: Kenneth S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Schweizer
mesh_terms: D003903:Deuterium; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D008970:Molecular Weight; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D009502:Neutrons; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D011137:Polystyrenes; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D003903:Deuterium