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Monitoring the formation of polystyrene/silica nanocomposites from vinyl triethoxysilane containing copolymers

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Abstract

Random copolymers of polystyrene-co-polyvinyl triethoxysilane (PS-co-PVTES) were prepared via semi-batch emulsion polymerization with different feed monomer compositions and evaluated as precursors of polystyrene (PS)/silica nanocomposites. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) profiles acquired from 20 °C to 180 °C showed that, at temperatures higher than glass transition temperature (T g) of PS, the latex particles aggregate. On thermal annealing at 180 °C, silica-rich domains are formed, as corroborated by scanning electron microscopy. Infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry analyses showed a reduction of the silanol concentration and an increase in the T g value, respectively. The silica long domain spacing, measured by SAXS, depends on the concentration of vinyl triethoxysilane (VTES) in the feed; this value varied from 35 to 57 nm when the weight ratio of the monomers (styrene/VTES) was 50:50 and 90:10, respectively.

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Acknowledgments

JFL and LDP thank Colciencias Colombia for the program Apoyo a la comunidad científica nacional a través de créditos para Doctorados Nacionales, Banco de la Republica for the financial support through the grant number 2.560, and to the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory for the use of the SAXS1 line and the financial assistance provided to the researchers.

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Lopez, J.F., Pelaez, G.J. & Perez, L.D. Monitoring the formation of polystyrene/silica nanocomposites from vinyl triethoxysilane containing copolymers. Colloid Polym Sci 291, 1143–1153 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-012-2842-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-012-2842-4

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