Synthesis and crystallization behavior of acetal copolymer/silica nanocomposite by in situ cationic ring‐opening copolymerization of trioxane and 1,3‐dioxolane |
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Authors: | Lanhui Sun Zhen‐Guo Yang Xiaohui Li |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Materials Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China;2. Shanghai Research Institute of Materials, Shanghai 200437, People's Republic of China |
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Abstract: | The acetal copolymer/silica nanocomposite was prepared by in situ bulk cationic copolymerization of trioxane and 1,3‐dioxolane in the presence of nanosilica. The crystallization behavior of acetal copolymer/silica nanocomposite was studied by AFM, DSC, XRD, and CPOM, and the macromolecular structure of acetal copolymer/silica nanocomposite was characterized by FTIR and 1H‐NMR. The 1H‐NMR results showed that the macromolecular chain of acetal copolymer had more than two consecutive 1,3‐dioxolane units in an oxymethylene main chain, while that of acetal copolymer/silica nanocomposite had only one 1,3‐dioxolane unit in an oxymethylene main chain. There existed interaction between the macromolecular chains and nanoparticles (such as hydrogen bonds and coordination). On one hand, nanoparticles acted as nucleation center, which accelerated the crystallization rate but reduced the crystallinity. The spherulite sizes also decreased with addition of nanoparticles attributed to the nucleation effect. On the other hand, the presence of nanoparticles interrupted the spherical symmetry of the crystallite. In conclusion, the high surface energy and small scale of nanoparticles have a prominent impact on the polymerization mechanism and crystallization behavior of nanocomposite. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008 |
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Keywords: | acetal copolymer crystallization behavior in situ polymerization nanocomposites |
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