Abstract
Effects of pH on mechanical properties as well as morphological studies of sol–gel derived in situ silica in polyvinyl chloride-50% epoxidized natural rubber (PVC-ENR50) nanocomposites are reported. In particular, a range of acid concentrations was investigated. These nanocomposites were prepared by solution casting technique and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) was used as the silica precursor. The prepared nanocomposites were characterized using tensile test, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The tensile test indicated that the highest mechanical strength was at 30% TEOS added for the nanocomposite prepared at pH 2.0. At pH 1.0 and 1.5 the maximum tensile strength reading was at 20% TEOS added with value of 24.3 and 24.5 MPa, respectively. SEM and TEM revealed the dispersion of silica particles in the polymer matrix. For nanocomposites prepared at pH 1.0 and 1.5, the silica particles were finely dispersed with the average size of 60 nm until 20% TEOS added. Meanwhile for nanocomposite prepared at pH 2.0, silica particles were homogenously distributed in the polymer matrix with average diameter of 30 nm until 30% TEOS and agglomerated after 30% TEOS loading.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Capek I (2006) Studies in interface science: nanocomposite structures and dispersions. Elsevier, Amsterdam
Chrusciel J, Slusarski L (2003) Mater Sci 21(4):461–469
Chernev GE, Samuneva BI, Djambaski PR, Salvado IMM, Fernandes HV (2006) Cent Euro Sci J 4(1):81–91
Ajayan PM, Schadler LS, Braun PV (2004) Nanocomposite science and technology. Wiley, Germany
Tanaka T, Montanari GC, Mulhaupt R (2004) IEEE Trans Dielec ElecInsul 11(5):763–784
Sadeghi M, Khanbabei G, Dehaghani AHS, Aravand MA, Akbarzade M, Khatti S (2008) J Membrane Sci 322(2):423–428
Ikeda I, Kameda S (2004) J Sol-Gel Sci Tech 31:137–142
Kohjiya S, Ikeda Y (2003) J Sol-Gel Sci Tech 26:495–498
Zhu A, Cai A, Zhou W, Shi Z (2008) J Appl Polym Sci 254:3745
Min C, Wu T, Yang W, Chen C (2008) Compos Sci Tech 68:1570–1578
Chrusciel J, Slusarski L (2003) Mater Sci 21:461–469
Bandyopadhyay A, Sarkar MD, Bhowmick AK (2005) J Mater Sci 40:53–62
Bandyopadhyay A, Sarkar MD, Bhowmick AK (2006) J Mater Sci 41:5981–5993
Bandyopadhyay A, Sarkar MD, Bhowmick AK (2004) J Appl Polym Sci 93:2579
Das G, Ferraioli L, Bettotti P, Angelis FD, Mariotto G, Pavesi L, Fabrizio ED (2008) Thin Solid Films 516:6804
Hashim A, Kawabata N, Kohjiya S (1995) J Sol-Gel Sci Tech 5:211–218
Brinker CJ, Scherer GW (1990) Sol-Gel Sci. Academic Press, New York
Bandyopadhyay A, Bhowmick AK (2004) Rubb Chem Tech 77:830
Chantara RT, Zaman K (1990) Polym Deg Stab 65:481
Mohammad N, Muchtar A, Ghazali MJ, Mohd D, Azhari CH (2008) Euro Polym J 24:538
Estella J, Echeverria JC, Laguna M, Garrido JJ (2007) J Non-Cryst Solids 353:286–294
Curran MD, Stiegman AE (1999) J Non-Cryst Solids 249:62–68
Acknowledgments
Authors would like to express the most gratitude to Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Malaysia Nuclear Agency for the opportunity to carry out this research. The work was partly supported by Fundamental Research grant Scheme (FRGS) ST06-FRGS-0015-2007 and Mini Budget Scholarship under Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia (MOHE).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Karim, J., Ahmad, A., Abdullah, I. et al. Effects of pH on mechanical and morphological studies of silica filled polyvinyl chloride-50% epoxidized natural rubber (PVC-ENR50) nanocomposite. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 62, 7–12 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-011-2670-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-011-2670-x