Polymer chain swelling induced by dispersed nanoparticles.
The dimensions of individual deuterated polystyrene (d-PS) chains in a well-dispersed mixture of protonated polystyrene and chemically identical nanoparticles was determined by neutron scattering. A 10%-20% increase in the radius of gyration of d-PS was found when the nanoparticles are homogeneously dispersed in the polymer, an effect that occurs only when the radius of gyration of the polymer is larger than the nanoparticle radius. These results are reconciled with the existing literature.
Tuteja
Anish
A
Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824 USA.
Duxbury
Phillip M
PM
Mackay
Michael E
ME