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A strategy for improving mechanical properties of composite nanofibers through surface functionalization of fillers with hyperbranched polyglycerol

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Abstract

This study aims to develop a strategy to promote the mechanical properties of nanofiller/polymer composite nanofibers, i.e., nanofillers was modified with hyperbranched polyglycerol (PG) by ring-opening polymerization of glycidol. The accomplishment of grafting of PG on ND nanofiller surface was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). FITR and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results revealed the enhanced filler–PVA interactions following PG functionalization. The improved dispersivity of PG-functionalized NDs (ND-PGs) in water and PVA matrix was verified by sedimentation tests and TEM, respectively. The grafting of PG on ND surface increased the tensile strength up to 60 %, Young’s modulus up to 51 %, and toughness up to 59 %, for 3 wt% ND/PVA composite nanofiber membranes. Therefore, the enhanced mechanical performance of ND-PG/PVA nanocomposites can be attributed to the enriched hydroxyl groups of PG which improved the dispersion of nanofillers within composite matrix and strengthened filler–matrix interactions.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21571147, 21206143), Innovative Team Incubation Program in High-Tech Industry of Wuhan City (2014070504020244), Innovative Team Program of the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province (2014CFA011), Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province (2015CFB430), Open Fund of Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Process of Ministry of Education (GCP201405), and Graduate Innovative Fund of Wuhan Institute of Technology (CX2014009).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Process of Ministry of Education & Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor & Green Chemical Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, 430073, China

    Ning Cai, Chao Li, Xiaogang Luo, Yanan Xue & Faquan Yu

  2. College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China

    Liang Shen

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  1. Ning Cai
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Correspondence to Faquan Yu.

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Cai, N., Li, C., Luo, X. et al. A strategy for improving mechanical properties of composite nanofibers through surface functionalization of fillers with hyperbranched polyglycerol. J Mater Sci 51, 797–808 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-015-9403-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-015-9403-4

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