title: Inorganic-organic elastomer nanocomposites from integrated ellipsoidal silica-coated hematite nanoparticles as crosslinking agents.
abstract: We report on the synthesis of nanocomposites with integrated ellipsoidal silica-coated hematite (SCH) spindle type nanoparticles which can act as crosslinking agents within an elastomeric matrix. Influence of the surface chemistry of the hematite, leading either to dispersed particles or crosslinked particles to the elastomer matrix, was studied via swelling, scattering and microscopy experiments. It appeared that without surface modification the SCH particles aggregate and act as defects whereas the surface modified SCH particles increase the crosslinking density and thus reduce the swelling properties of the nanocomposite in good solvent conditions. For the first time, inorganic SCH particles can be easily dispersed into a polymer network avoiding aggregation and enhancing the properties of the resulting inorganic-organic elastomer nanocomposite (IOEN).
authors.affiliation: ETH Zurich, Institute of Food, Nutrition & Health, Food & Soft Materials Science Group, Schmelzbergstrasse 9, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Ferrer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reufer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mezzenga
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schurtenberger
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dietsch
mesh_terms: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D020724:Elastomers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D013818:Thermogravimetry; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D020724:Elastomers; D005290:Ferric Compounds; C000499:ferric oxide; D012822:Silicon Dioxide