Effect of Silica Nanoparticles Modification on the Thermal, Structural, and Decomposition Properties of a β‐Nucleated Poly(propylene‐co‐ethylene) Matrix

Abstract

In the current investigation, nanocomposites containing a β‐nucleated poly(propylene‐co‐ethylene) (PPR) matrix filled with untreated (SiO2) and methacrylate‐modified silica nanoparticles (SiO2‐MAA) are prepared. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveals the improvement in the quality of dispersion due to the surface modification of the nanoparticles. Also, from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD), it is found that the β‐nucleating agent and silica nanoparticles work synergistically in order to increase the relative β‐content in the nanocomposite samples. The thermal stability of each samples is evaluated by means of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and the enhancement of the thermal stability of the nanocomposites is attributed to the nanoconfinement of the macromolecular chains caused by the presence of the fillers.

β-Nucleated Polypropylene: Preparation, Nucleating Efficiency, Composite, and Future Prospects

“…Synergistic materials with β-nucleating agents include MWNTs [ 151 ]; illite [ 56 ]; calcium sulfate whiskers [ 152 ]; nano-silica particles [ 153 , 154 ]; the PA66 used in sandwich-assembly interlayer PP [ 155 ]; TPE/calcium carbonate [ 156 ]; the polyhedral oligomeric silesquioxane (POSS) amide group hydrogen bond reaction [ 157 ]; hydrotalcite (HT) [ 158 ]; and even new nanomaterials such as Mxene [ 159 ]. β-nucleating agents can maintain better performances in the system via their synergistic effect with different materials.…”

Solution-processed crack-free oxide films formed using SiO2 nanoparticles and organoalkoxysiloxane precursors

“…SiO 2 NPs can be used to overcome problems with shrinkage or to enhance the mechanical or thermal stability [4]. Papageorgiou et al [5] obtained the enhancement of thermal stability of β-nucleated poly(propylene-co-ethylene) via a networking of surface modified silica nanoparticles with methacrylate groups, which was attributed to the nanoconfinement of the macromolecular chains caused by the presence of the silica nanoparticles. Kunst et al [6] increased the corrosion resistance of siloxane-PMMA films via a sol-gel process to form covalent bonds between the PMMA and siloxane phases.…”

Dynamic mechanical properties, crystallization behaviors, and low‐temperature performance of polypropylene random copolymer composites

“…Great research efforts have been focused on the toughening of PPR through the addition of inorganic fillers, such as CaCO 3 , SiO 2 , ZnO, and organophilic montmorillonite . In addition, many kinds of β‐nucleating agents (β‐NAs) have been used to toughen PPR .…”