

This work reports the preparation of SiO2 and TiO 2/poly (vinyl butyral) nanocomposites with enhanced dynamic mechanical properties. Silica and titania nanoparticles were introduced in the matrix as the neat powder and as colloidal sol using the melt mixing process. Composites reinforced with colloidal sol silica and titania showed higher mechanical properties than the ones reinforced with as-received particles. When sol TiO2 particles are used, the highest increase of storage modulus of about 54% is obtained for 5 wt% loading, while for sol SiO2, the storage modulus increases with the addition of nanosilica with the largest increase of about 99% for 7 wt% loading. In addition, nanocomposites were introduced within Kevlar/PVB composites. The addition of 5 wt% silica and titania colloidal sol lead to the remarkable increase of the storage modulus for about 98 and 65%, respectively. Largest contribution of nanoreinforcements in lowering the glass transition temperature is observed for 7 wt% loading of TiO2 and SiO2 colloidal sol. © 2010 World Scientific Publishing Company.
| Funding sponsor | Funding number | Acronym |
|---|---|---|
| Ministarstvo Prosvete, Nauke i Tehnološkog Razvoja | 142006,E!4040 | MPNTR |
| Ministarstvo Prosvete, Nauke i Tehnološkog Razvoja | MPNTR |
The authors wish to acknowledge the financial support from the Ministry of Science and Technological Development Republic of Serbia through the project 142006 and E!4040. Electron microscopy characterization was performed at the National Center for Electron Microscopy, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Torki, A. M.; Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Serbia
© Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.