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Healable materials could play an important role in reducing the environmental footprint of our modern technological society through extending the life cycles of consumer products and constructions. Future technologies require smart materials with advanced properties including responsiveness to external stimuli and particularly the ability to autonomously repair inflicted damage. The introduction of reversible connections in the polymer architecture, either in a non-covalent fashion, such as in supramolecular polymers, or by using dynamic covalent chemistry. One facile approach involves the implementation of reversible polymer networks as they offer high mechanical strength and thermal properties that are readily modified by the nature of the connecting dynamic bonds and the crosslinking density. In this context, small-angle scattering allows a detailed insight into the network structure of self-healing polymers either in bulk materials or in form of hydrogels. Here we report on how small-angle scattering can contribute to reveal the network structure. A first example is the conditional repair by locally switching the thermal healing capability of dynamic covalent polymers with light.
Typical experimental SAXS curves of a photo- and thermal switchable polymer are shown. The scattering pattern show three characteristics. Region 1 is dominated by a forward scattering interpreted as resultant from large scale inhomogeneities of the bulk polymers (characterized by a first correlation length). The second scattering contribution can be interpreted as resultant from the network and is characterized by its entanglement distance. The mesh size of this network can be described by a second correlation length. Region 3 of the scattering pattern is dominated by a broad peak. Taking all effects into account, we approximate the total scattering as a sum of the three scattering contributions. In particular, the Debye-Büche function is used for I1 the Ornstein-Zernike function for the crosslinking contribution I2 and a Lorentzian peak function.
We discussed this simple and more sophisticated approaches for revealing network structures. Examples of studies from hydrogel networks are provided as important materials with polymeric networks in life science applications. Finally, the determination of mesh size distributions as a function of temperature, time and healing efficiency is discussed in detail.
In contrast to microplastics, little is known about nanoplastics (1 to 100 nm). In order to make the dectecability of nanoplasics more reliable, we started to develop nanoplastic reference materials. This project also aims to anser the question of how the single chain conformation of bio(polymers) changes in contact with nanoplastics. Small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering methods are suitable methods for studing this topic. Recently the soft and hard interactions between polystyrene nanoplasics and human serum albumin corona was investigated with small-angle neutron scattering. Here we concentrate on small-angle X-ray scattering as our favorite method to study how (bio)polymers change their conformation in contact with nanoplastics. The scattering of bovine serum albumin in its native state can be detected easily. The scattering pattern of this biopolymer changes dramatically when its globular stucture changes to a coil structure. Modeling of chain conformations and the calculation of the scattering pattern is relatively easy to perform. Numerous model calculations will be provided to predict the changes of conformation of single bio(polymer) chains when in conatact with nanoplastics. These predictions will be compared with recent experimenal results from in situ measurments of bio(polymers) in contact with nanoplastics. The impact of temperature, polymer concentration and salt on the single-chain conformation changes will be discussed.
A look inside nanoparticles
(2019)
Small-angle scattering is the method of choice when it comes to obtaining information about the interior of nanoparticles. The aim is to make nanotechnology safer. While the use of small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) is limited to a few instruments in the world, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is widely accessible, with an upward trend. The example of core-shell particles shows how simple their analysis is with data from an Anton Paar laboratory system. Here, SAXS is a central tool for the development of new reference materials based on poly(methyl) acrylate-PVDF core-shell particles. The dimensions of the cores and shells can be precisely determined. A detailed analysis makes it possible to show that the cores contain fluorinated and nonfluorinated polymers, whereas the shell consist only of PVDF. This core-shell particles with a diameter around 40 nm show a significantly higher PVDF beta phase content than the PVDF homopolymer when using an emulsion polymerization technique. This finding is of importance with respect to applications in electroactive devices.
Herein, we report three crystals of styryl quinoline derivatives. All these three crystals are mechanically flexible crystals, isostructural and also all of them comply with the common underlying features for elas- tic flexibility like absence of slip plane, criss-cross packing arrangement of neighbouring tapes, presence of weak and dispersive interactions such as halogen bonds, hydrogen bonds etc. The interactions facilitate easy movement of molecules under application of pressure thereby imparting elasticity. Further, the crys- tals were found to be blue light emitting making them promising candidates for optical waveguides. The optical properties were combined with flexibility by using crystal engineering approach towards achiev- ing various applications such as flexible OLEDs, optical waveguides, flexible optoelectronics etc.
The effects of weathering exposure on unfilled and filled thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) materials are described as performed under different humidity conditions. For this purpose, a weathering device was used with UV-A 340 nm lamps at a constant temperature of 40 °C. The effects of environmental (UV and humidity condition) degradation on the frictional properties of TPU materials are presented along with surface analyses to characterize the chemistry of the degradative process. Photooxidative degradation of unfilled polymer leads to deterioration of physical and mechanical properties, which affects its tribological behavior significantly. Due to crosslinking, the stiffness of the material increases, reducing drastically the friction coefficient of unfilled TPUs. The frictional behavior of glass fiber reinforced TPU is less affected by radiation.
The X-ray intensities of the K-, L- and M-lines of copper, zirconium and tungsten have been measured with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer of known efficiency as function of photon energy. X-ray production efficiencies were determined from the measured intensities for Kα- and L-series of Cu and Zr and for the L- and M-series of W. These data were compared to calculated X-ray production efficiencies based on the widely used matrix correction models of Pouchou and Pichoir (XPP) and Bastin (PROZA96).
Our results indicate that a replacement of the stopping power in the PROZA96 algorithm by expressions of Joy and Jablonski has only a minor influence on the calculated X-ray production efficiencies. In contrast, the modifications of the ionization cross-section show a stronger effect. We replaced the ionization cross-sections for K lines of the PROZA96 algorithm with different models.
The results for L- and M-Lines are different. For the L-lines of Cu the original XPP and PROZA96 models show the best agreement while using the Bote cross-sections result in an overestimation. For the Zr-L and W-L1, -L2, -L3 X-ray production efficiencies, the Bote cross-sections lead to a significant improvement compared to all other models. The original XPP model represents the best agreement for the M5 efficiencies but underestimates the M4 efficiencies.
There is no superior model or modification because the parameter sets in the models need to be aligned to each other. However, using the ionization cross-sections of Bote, which are based on quantum mechanical calculations, show promising results in many cases.
Elemental composition and thickness determination of thin films by electron probe microanalysis
(2023)
Electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) applies to solid samples of homogenous (bulk) chemical composition and can usually not be applied to structures which are inhomogeneous in the micrometer range such as thin film systems down to a few nm. However, in combination with the established thin film software Stratagem, the thickness as well as the elemental composition of thin films on a substrate can be determined. This has been recently successfully demonstrated for Fe-Ni on Si and Si-Ge on Al2O3 thin film systems. For both systems five samples of different elemental composition and a reference were produced and characterised by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), Rutherford backscattering (RBS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) as reference values. Last year, a new and open-source thin film evaluation programme called BadgerFilm has been released. It can also be used to determine thin film composition and thickness from intensity ratios of the unknown sample and standards (k-ratios). In this contribution, we reevaluated the data acquired for the Fe-Ni and Si-Ge systems using the BadgerFilm software package and compared the obtained elemental compositions and thickness values with the results of the Stratagem software and the reference methods. The conclusion is that the BadgerFilm software shows good agreement with the elemental composition and thickness calculated by Stratagem (mostly <2% for both composition and thickness) and with the reference values for two representative thin film systems (<1%–2% for composition and <10%–20% for thickness).
The thickness of thin films can be measured by various methods, e.g., profilometry, ellipsometry, atomic force microscopy (AFM), or X-ray reflectometry. For the additional determination of thin film composition, techniques like X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) or mass spectrometry-based techniques can be used. An alternative non-destructive technique is electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). This method assumes a sample of homogenous (bulk) chemical composition, so that it cannot be usually applied to thin film samples. However, in combination with the thin film software StrataGEM, the thickness as well as the composition of such films on a substrate can be determined.
This has been demonstrated for FeNi on Si and SiGe on Al2O3 film systems. For both systems five samples with different elemental composition and a reference were produced and characterised by Korean research institute KRISS using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), Rutherford backscattering (RBS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). These samples were used for an international round robin test.
In 2021, a new and open-source thin film evaluation programme called BadgerFilm has been released. It can also be used to determine thin film composition and thickness from intensity ratios of the unknown sample and standards (k-ratios).
In this contribution, we re-evaluated the data acquired for the FeNi and SiGe systems using the BadgerFilm software package and compared the resulting composition and thickness with the results of the established StrataGEM software and other reference methods. With the current evaluation, the BadgerFilm software shows good agreement with the composition and thickness calculated by StrataGEM and as the reference values provided by the KRISS.
Electron probe microanalysis (EPMA)is a non-destructive technique which assumes a sample of homogenous (bulk) chemical composition and can, therefore, not be used for thin film samples. However, in combination with one of the possible thin film software packages, STRATAGEM, the thickness as well as the composition of such films on a substrate can be determined.
This has been demonstrated for FeNi on Si and SiGe on Al2O3 film systems. For both systems five samples with different elemental composition and a reference were produced and characterised by the Korean research institute KRISS using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), Rutherford backscattering (RBS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
In 2021, a new and open source thin film evaluation programme called BADGERFILM has been released. It can also be used to determine thin film composition and thickness from intensity ratios of the unknown sample and standards (k-ratios).
In this contribution, we re-evaluated the data acquired for the FeNi and SiGe systems using the BADGERFILM software package and compared the resulting composition and thickness with the results of the established STRATAGEM software and other reference methods. With the current evaluation, the BADGERFILM software shows good agreement with the composition and thickness calculated by STRATAGEM and provided by the KRISS.
These results between two well-known layered material systems analysed with available conventional EMPA approaches (STRATAGEM and direct thickness measurement by TEM) and a new one (BADGERFILM) proves that reliable non-destructive thin film analysis is possible. In this way, we validate the performance of the new software, which is not at all self-explanatory for such
complex quantification algorithms lying behind the final quantified results.
Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA) provides a non-destructive approach in the dedicated thin film analysis mode with the commercial StrataGem software. Recently, the open-source programme BadgerFilm by Moy and Fournelle became available. Similarly to StrataGem, it is based on the algorithm of Pouchou and Pichoir and needs intensity ratios of the unknown sample and standards (k-values). We have evaluated the k-values measured for the FeNi and SiGe film systems using the BadgerFilm software package and compared the thickness and composition with the results obtained with the established StrataGem software and other reference methods. The thicknesses of the SiGe films obtained by the BadgerFilm software agree within 20% with the StrataGem and TEM results; the elemental compositions BadgerFilm-StrataGEM agree within 2% with one exception (9%).
Tailoring negative pressure by crystal defects: Microcrack induced hydride formation in Al alloys
(2023)
Climate change motivates the search for non-carbon-emitting energy generation and storage solutions. Metal hydrides show promising characteristics for this purpose. They can be further stabilized by tailoring the negative pressure of microstructural and structural defects. Using systematic ab initio and atomistic simulations, we demonstrate that an enhancement in the formation of hydrides at the negatively pressurized tip region of the microcrack is feasible by increasing the mechanical tensile load on the specimen. The theoretical predictions have been used to reassess and interpret atom probe tomography experiments for a high-strength 7XXX-aluminium alloy that show a substantial enhancement of hydrogen concentration at structural defects near a stress-corrosion crack tip. These results contain important implications for enhancing the capability of metals as H-storage materials.
AbstractThis work addresses the critical need for multifunctional materials and substrate‐independent high‐precision surface modification techniques that are essential for advancing microdevices and sensing elements. To overcome existing limitations, the versatility of mussel‐inspired materials (MIMs) is combined with state‐of‐the‐art multiphoton direct laser writing (DLW) microfabrication. In this way, 2D and 3D MIM microstructures of complex designs are demonstrated with sub‐micron to micron resolution and extensive post‐functionalization capabilities. This study includes polydopamine (PDA), mussel‐inspired linear, and dendritic polyglycerols (MI‐lPG and MI‐dPG), allowing their direct microstructure on the substrate of choice with the option to tailor the patterned topography and morphology in a controllable manner. The functionality potential of MIMs is demonstrated by successfully immobilizing and detecting single‐stranded DNA on MIM micropattern and nanoarray surfaces. In addition, easy modification of MIM microstructure with silver nanoparticles without the need of any reducing agent is shown. The methodology developed here enables the integration of MIMs in advanced applications where precise surface functionalization is essential.
The study of van der Waals interactions plays a central role in the understanding of bonding across a range of biological, chemical and physical phenomena. The presence of van der Waals interactions can be identified through analysis of the reduced density gradient, a fundamental parameter at the core of Density Functional Theory. An extension of Bader’s Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules is developed here through combination with the analysis of the reduced density gradient. Through this development, a new quantum chemical topological tool is presented: the volumetric source function.
This technique allows insight into the atomic composition of van der Waals interactions, offering the first route towards applying the highly successful source function to these disperse interactions. A new algorithm has been implemented in the open-source code, CRITIC2, and tested on acetone, adipic and maleic acids molecular crystals, each stabilized by van der Waals interactions. This novel technique for studying van der Waals interactions at an atomic level offers unprecedented opportunities in the fundamental study of intermolecular interactions and molecular design for crystal engineering, drug design and bio-macromolecular processes.
The unambiguous correlation of possible health and sustainability risks to nanoparticle size must be enabled by reliable measurement of nanoparticle size, to ensure comparability and compatibility between results measured under different methods. The NPSIZE project funded by European Metrology Program (EMPIR) develop methods, reference materials and modelling to improve the traceability chain, comparability and compatibility of nanoparticle size measurements. In this work, we present how spherical silica nanoparticles are synthetized with controlled monomodal or bimodal dispersion to be use as reference materials and international round-robin. Improving the fabrication requires a fine understanding of synthesis (1), coupled with an expertise of in-situ or ex-situ analysis methods. This is a new challenge for the analysis : determining not only average characteristics (size, chemical composition and shape ...) but also the concentration and the distribution over the population studied (2). Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (3) allows very precise measurements of the nanoparticles size and concentration that can be directly link to the metric system (4) (metrological traceability) . We developed a SAXS laboratory instrument dedicated to the in-situ characterization of nanoparticles, which enable fast measurements, and the monitoring of the synthesis parameters. Measurement protocols and software processing chain (5) (i.e. size distribution) are also combined & optimized.
We study single-site and two-site defect structures in B2-type Fe-Al alloys by means of density functional theory supercell calculations. The defect formation energies are calculated as functions of the chemical potential, which are used to obtain the dependence of the defect concentrations on Al content at different temperatures. We also examine the converging behavior of the formation energies with respect to the supercell size to study the corresponding limit of dilute defects. The effect of magnetism is investigated by considering nonmagnetic, ferromagnetic, and paramagnetic states, calculations for the latter showing that the magnitude of the local magnetic moments strongly impacts the defect formation energies. The methodological studies are used to provide explanations for the wide spread of defect formation energies reported by experiments and other theoretical investigations. Based on these insights, the stability of the B2-FeAl structure as a function of Al concentration is obtained and discussed.
One of the main challenges for the synthesis and application of the promising hard-magnetic compound CeFe11Ti is the formation of Laves phases that are detrimental for their thermodynamic stability and magnetic properties. In this paper, we present an ab initio based approach to modify the stability of these phases in the Ce-Fe-Ti system by additions of 3d and 4d elements. We combine highly accurate free-energy calculations with an efficient screening technique to determine the critical annealing temperature for the formation of Ce(Fe,X)11Ti. The central findings are the dominant role of the formation enthalpy at T = 0 K on chemical trends and the major relevance of partial chemical decompositions. Based on these insights, promising transition metals to promote the stability of the hard-magnetic phase, such as Zn and Tc, were predicted. The comparison with suction casting and reactive crucible melting experiments for Ce-Fe-Ti-X (X = Cu, Ga, Co, and Cr) highlights the relevance of additional phases and quaternary elements.
Methods and materials are presented here, which enable the manufacturing of fine structures using a 3D-printing method known as two-photon polymerization (2PP). As traditional photolithography methods for structuring ceramic slurries do not function with 2PP, due to light scattering on ceramic particles, a novel water-based photoresist with high ceramic loading of extremely well dispersed ceramic nano particles was developed. This photoresist is basically a ceramic slurry containing a photocurable agent and a photoinitiator to be crosslinkable with the 780 nm wavelength femtosecond laser light source of the 2PP machine. It is demonstrated that it is possible to gain a highly transparent and low viscous slurry suitable for 2PP processing. This work shows the development of the slurry, first printing results and the post-printing processes required to form three dimensional ceramic microstructures consisting of alumina toughened zirconia (ATZ).
AbstractTwo‐photon polymerization (2PP) additive manufacturing (AM) utilizes feedstocks of ceramic nanoparticles of a few nanometers in diameter, enabling the fabrication of highly accurate technical ceramic design with structural details as small as 500 nm. The performance of these materials is expected to differ from conventional AM ceramics, as nanoparticles and three‐dimensional printing at high resolution introduce new microstructural aspects. This study applies 2PP‐AM of yttria‐stabilized zirconia to investigate the mechanical response behavior under compressive load, probing the influence of smallest structural units induced by the line packing during the printing process, design of sintered microblocks, and sintering temperature and thereby microstructure. We find a dissipative mechanical response enhanced by sintering at lower temperatures than conventional. The pursued 2PP‐AM approach yields a microstructured material with an increased number of grain boundaries that proposedly play a major role in facilitating energy dissipation within the here printed ceramic material. This microplastic response is further triggered by the filigree structures induced by hollow line packing at the order of the critical defect size of ceramics. Together, these unique aspects made accessible by the 2PP‐AM approach contribute to a heterogeneous nano‐ and microstructure, and hint toward opportunities for tailoring the mechanical response in future ceramic applications.
Broadband dielectric spectroscopy in the frequency range from 10-1 to 109 Hz is employed to revisit the segmental dynamics of the miscible blend system poly(vinyl methyl ether)/polystyrene (PVME/PS) in dependence on the composition firstly in the bulk state. Here especially the case of high polystyrene concentrations is considered. It is important to note that only the molecular dynamics of PVME segments as affected by PS is observed because the dipole moment of polystyrene is negligible. Three relaxation processes are found which are due to fluctuations of differently constrained or confined PVME segments. The degree of the confinement of PVME segments due to PS is discussed in dependence on the composition.
Further a spatial confinement is considered by investigating thin films of the PVME/PS blend where the film thickness was varied from 100 nm down to 5 nm. Two concentrations of PVME/PS (50/50 wt% and 25/75 wt%) are investigated. To measure nanometer thick films a novel electrode system based on nanostructured electrodes was employed. Nanostructured electrodes can be considered as a cut-edge technology in dielectric spectroscopy. The relaxation spectra of the films showed multiple processes which are discussed in dependence on the film thickness.
Epoxy-Based Nanocomposites—What Can Be Learned from Dielectric and Calorimetric Investigations?
(2022)
Epoxy-based nanocomposites are promisingmaterials for industrial applications (i.e., aerospace, marine, and automotive industries) due to their extraordinary mechanical and thermal properties. Regardless of the broad field of applications, there is still a considerable need to identify their structure–property relationships. Here, a detailed dielectric and calorimetric (DSC and fast scanning calorimetry) study on different epoxy-based nanocomposites was performed. Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (DGEBA) cured with diethylenetriamine (DETA) was employed as the polymeric matrix, which was reinforced with three diverse nanofillers that exhibit different interaction strengths with the epoxy matrix (halloysite nanotubes, surface modified halloysite nanotubes, and taurine-modified layered double hydroxide). The structure, molecular mobility, and vitrification behavior are discussed in detail, focusing on the intrinsic structural and dynamic heterogeneity, as well as interfacial properties.
The complex effect of nanoparticles on an epoxy-based and anhydride cured DGEBA/Boehmite nanocomposite with different particle concentrations is considered in this chapter. A combination of X-ray scattering, calorimetry (fast scanning and temperature modulated calorimetry) and dielectric spectroscopy was employed to characterize the structure, vitrification kinetics and the molecular dynamics of the nanocomposites. Firstly, the unfilled polymer was found to be intrinsically heterogeneous, showing regions with different crosslinking density, indicated by two separate dynamic glass transitions. Moreover, the glass transition temperature decreases with increasing nanoparticle concentration, as a result of changes in the crosslinking density. In addition, it was shown that the incorporation of nanoparticles can result in simultaneous increase in the number of mobile segments for low nanoparticle concentrations and on the other hand, for higher loading degrees the number of mobile segments decreases, due to the formation of an immobilized interphase.
A detailed calorimetric study on an epoxy-based nanocomposite system was performed employing bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (DGEBA) cured with diethylenetriamine (DETA) as the polymer matrix and taurine-modified MgAL layered double hydroxide (T-LDH) as nanofiller. The -NH2 group of taurine can react with DGEBA improving the interaction of the polymer with the filler. The combined X-ray scattering, and electron microscopy data showed that the nanocomposite has a partially exfoliated morphology. Calorimetric studies were performed with conventional DSC, temperature modulated DSC (TMDSC) and fast scanning calorimetry (FSC) in the temperature modulated approach (TMFSC) to investigate the vitrification and molecular mobility in dependence of the filler concentration. First, TMDSC and NMR were used to estimate the amount of the rigid amorphous fraction which consists of immobilized polymer segments at the nanoparticle surface. It was found to be 40 wt% for the highest filler concentration, indicating that the interface dominates the overall macroscopic properties and behavior of the material to a great extent. Second, the relaxation rates of the α-relaxation obtained by TMDSC and TMFSC were compared with the thermal and dielectric relaxation rates measured by static FSC. The investigation revealed that the system shows two distinct α-relaxation processes. Furthermore, also two separate vitrification mechanisms were found for a bulk network-former without geometrical confinement as also confirmed by NMR. This was discussed in terms of the intrinsic spatial heterogeneity on a molecular scale, which becomes more pronounced with increasing nanofiller content.
The complex effects of nanoparticles on a thermosetting material based on an anhydride cured DGEBA/Boehmite nanocomposite with different particle concentrations is considered. A combination of X-ray scattering, calorimetry, including fast scanning calorimetry as well as temperature modulated calorimetry and dielectric spectroscopy, was employed to study the structure, the vitrification kinetics and the molecular dynamics of the nanocomposites. For the first time in the literature for an epoxy-based composite a detailed analysis of the X-ray data was carried out. Moreover, the unfilled polymer was found to be intrinsically heterogeneous, showing regions with different crosslinking density, indicated by two separate dynamic glass transitions. The glass transition temperature decreases with increasing nanoparticle concentration, resulting from a change in the crosslinking density. Moreover, on the one hand, for nanocomposites the incorporation of nanofiller increased the number of mobile segments for low nanoparticle concentrations, due to the altered crosslinking density. On the other hand, for higher loading degrees the number of mobile segments decreased, resulting from the formation of an immobilized interphase (RAF). The simultaneous mobilization and immobilization of the segmental dynamics cannot be separated unambiguously. Taking the sample with highest number of mobile segments as reference state it was possible to estimate the amount of RAF.
Thin polymeric films are of great importance of high number of high-tech applications for instance in sensors and nanoelectronics. Form the scientific point of view thin films with thickness below 100 nm are ideal model systems to study confinement effects on its properties for instance on the molecular relaxation processes. In this contribution an overview is presented about the behavior of different systems as investigated by nanosized relaxation spectroscopy like broadband dielectric spectroscopy employing nano structured capacitors and AC chip calorimetry complimented by ellipsometry. The systems considered are PVME1, PVME/PS blends2,3 P2VP4, PBAC5 and polysulfone6. Besides the film also the adsorbed layer on the substrate prepared by a leaching approach and investigated by AFM is considered.1,4-7. For these investigationsss it is found that the adsorbed layer itself exhibits a relaxation dynamics which might be assigned either to molecular motions or to adsorptions desorption kinetics.
The molecular mobility of the highly asymmetric miscible blend poly(vinyl methyl ether)/polystyrene was investigated by broadband dielectric (frequency range 10^-1 Hz – 10^9 Hz) and specific heat spectroscopy (frequency range 10^1 Hz – 10^4 Hz). The dielectric spectra revealed a complex molecular dynamic behavior, where three different relaxation processes were observed. At temperatures below the glass transition temperature an α´-relaxation was found, with an Arrhenius-like temperature dependence of its relaxation rates. It is assigned to localized fluctuations of the confined PVME segments within a frozen glassy matrix dominated by PS. Above the thermal glass transition temperature two processes with a VFT behavior of their relaxation rates were detected called α1- and α2-relaxation, both originating from PVME dipoles fluctuating in PS-rich environments, however with diverse PS concentrations. The relevant length scales for the processes are assumed to be different, corresponding to the Kuhn segment length for the former relaxation and to the CRR for the latter one. The observed multiple glassy dynamics result from spatial local compositional heterogeneities on a microscopic level. Additionally, SHS investigations were performed for the first time for this system, proving an existence of a fourth relaxation process (α3-relaxation) due to the cooperative fluctuations of both PS and PVME segments. The separation between the thermal α3- and dielectric α2-relaxation increases dramatically with increasing polystyrene concentration, proving that the thermal response is dominated by PS.
Nanocomposites based on MgAL layered double hydroxides (LDH) and an epoxy resin were prepared and investigated by a combination of complementary methods. As epoxy resin Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (DGEBA) was used with Diethylenetriamine as curing agent. The LDH was modified with taurine, which acts as an additional crosslinking agent due to its amine groups. The epoxy resin was cured in a presence of the nanofiller, which was added to the system in various concentrations. X-ray scattering, by combination of SAXS and WAXS was used to characterize the morphology of the obtained nanocomposites. These investigations show that the filler is distributed in the matrix as small stacks of ca. 10 layers. The molecular dynamics of the system, as probe for structure, was investigated by broadband dielectric spectroscopy. In addition to the - and -relaxation (dynamic glass transition), characteristic for the unfilled materials, a further process was found which was assigned to localized fluctuations of segments physically adsorbed or chemically bonded to the nanoparticles. The dielectric -relaxation is shifted to higher temperatures for the nanocomposites in comparison to the pure material but depends weakly on the content of nanoparticles. Further, for the first time Flash DSC was employed to a thermosetting system to investigate the glass transition behavior of the nanocomposites. The heating rates were converted in to relaxation rates. For low concentrations of the nanofiller the thermal data overlap more or less with that of the pure epoxy. For higher concentrations the thermal data are shifted significantly to higher temperatures. This is discussed in terms the cooperativity approach to the glass transition.
Inelastic incoherent neutron time-of-flight scattering was employed to investigate the low-frequency vibrational density of states (VDOSs) for a series of glassy Janus-poly(tricyclononenes), which consist of a rigid main chain and flexible alkyl side chains. Here, the length of the flexible side chains was systematically varied from propyl to octyl. Such materials have potential applications as active separation layers in gas separation membranes as a green future technology, especially for the separation of higher hydrocarbons. From the morphological point of view, the Janus polynorbornenes undergo a nanophase separation into alkyl side chain-rich nanodomains surrounded by a rigid polynorbornene matrix. Here, the influence of the nanophase-separated structure on the low-frequency VDOS is investigated from a fundamental point of view. The low-frequency VDOSs of these Janus polynorbornene show excess contributions to the Debye type VDOS known as the Boson peak (BP) for all side chain lengths. Due to the high incoherent scattering cross-section of hydrogen, most of the scattering comes from the alkyl side chain-rich domains.
Compared to conventional glass-forming materials, in the considered Janus polynorbornenes, the BP has a much lower intensity and its frequency position is shifted to higher values. These experimental results are discussed in terms of the nanophase-separated structure where the alkyl chain-rich domains were constrained by the surrounding matrix dominated by the rigid backbone. With increasing alkyl chain length, the size of the alkyl chain-rich domains increases. The frequency position of the BP shifts linearly to lower frequencies with the size of these nanodomains estimated from X-ray measurements. The obtained results support the sound wave interpretation to the BP
Thin films (200-7nm) of the asymmetric polymer blend poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME)/polystyrene (PS) (25/75wt%) were investigated by broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS). Thicker samples ([Formula: see text]37 nm) were measured by crossed electrode capacitors (CEC), where the film is capped between Al-electrodes. For thinner films ([Formula: see text]37 nm) nanostructured capacitors (NSC) were employed, allowing one free surface in the film. The dielectric spectra of the thick films showed three relaxation processes ( [Formula: see text] -, [Formula: see text] - and [Formula: see text] -relaxation), like the bulk, related to PVME fluctuations in local spatial regions with different PS concentrations. The thickness dependence of the [Formula: see text] -process for films measured by CECs proved a spatially heterogeneous structure across the film with a PS-adsorption at the Al-electrodes. On the contrary, for the films measured by NSCs a PVME segregation at the free surface was found, resulting in faster dynamics, compared to the CECs. Moreover, for the thinnest films ([Formula: see text]26 nm) an additional relaxation process was detected. It was assigned to restricted fluctuations of PVME segments within the loosely bounded part of the adsorbed layer, proving that for NSCs a PVME enrichment takes place also at the polymer/substrate interface.
Polymers with intrinsic microporosity are promising candidates for the active separation layer in gas separation membranes. These polymers are characterized by a high permeability and reasonable permselectivity. The latter point is somehow surprising because for microporous systems a more Knudson-like diffusion is expected then a size dependent temperature activated sieving process. It was argued in the framework of a random gate model that molecular fluctuations on a time scale from ps to ns are responsible for the permselectivity.
Here series of polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) as well as microporous polynorbornenes with bulky Si side groups and a rigid backbone are considered. The polymers have different microporosity characterized by high BET surface area values.
First inelastic time-of-flight neutron scattering measurements were carried out to investigate the low frequency density of state (VDOS). The measured data show the characteristic low frequency excess contribution to the VDOS above the Debye sound wave level, generally known as the Boson peak in glass-forming materials. It was found that the frequency of the maximum position of the Boson peak correlates with the BET surface area value.
Secondly elastic scans as well as quasielastic neutron scattering measurements by a combination of neutron time-of-flight and backscattering have been out. A low temperature relaxation process was found for both polymers. This process was assigned to the methyl group rotation. It was analysed in terms of a jump diffusion in a three-fold potential. The analysis of the dependence of the elastic incoherent structure factor on the scattering vector yields the number of methyl groups which might be immobilized.
The neutron scattering experiments were accompanied by fast scanning calorimetry and broadband dielectric investigations as well as atomistic molecular dynamic simulations.
Polymers at interfaces play a major role in a broad variety of applications ranging from engineering purposes (for instance polymer based nanocomposites) to high tech implications (for instance light emitting diodes). Here the glass transition and glassy dynamics is considered for epoxy-based nanocomposite with Layered Double Hydroxide nanofiller and for thin films of a misicble polymer blend of PVME/PS with thicknesses down to 7 nm. The materials are investigated by spectroscopic techniques (broadband and specific heat spectroscopy), as well as by fast scanning calorimetry and small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering.
In inorganic/polymer nanocomposites the polymer matrix region near a filler surface, termed as the interphase, is of topical interest due to its possible influence on the macroscopic properties of the material. The segmental dynamics of this interphase is expected to be altered, as compared to the pure matrix, which might percolate into the entire system. It was found that a so-called Rigid Amorphous Phase (RAF) is formed in the interfacial region by adsorption of the polymer segments onto the nanoparticles, yielding in their immobilization. Here, we employed a combination of two relaxation spectroscopy techniques (Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy (BDS) and Specific Heat Spectroscopy (SHS) in a form of Temperature Modulated DSC (TMDSC)) to investigate the structure and molecular mobility of Epoxy/Inorganic nanofiller composites with different nanoparticles geometries and contents. The two techniques show different perspectives on the glassy dynamics; BDS is sensitive to dipole fluctuations, whereas SHS senses entropy fluctuations.
First, our dielectric relaxation investigations proved an existence of an additional process in nanocomposites, which is not present in the pure material. Due to the increasing intensity of the process with increasing filler content it was assigned as the α-process related to the segmental dynamics of polymer chains adsorbed onto the nanoparticles. Considering the expected high conductivity effects of the material, the dielectric data were analyzed by fitting a derivative of the HN function to a “conduction-free” loss spectra: ε''deriv=-(∂ε'/∂logω).
Second, TMDSC measurements were used to study the specific heat capacity of nanocomposites in its nanofiller content dependence. Assuming that RAF is proportional to the decrease of the specific heat capacity step (Δcp) in the glass transition region of the nanocomposites, comparing to the pure material, the inorganic/polymer interphase was quantitatively analyzed and the amount of RAF estimated.
Over the past decades research on the molecular dynamics of miscible polymer blends are of topical interest in the literature, in an attempt to understand the segmental mobilty of individual components, as it is affected by blending. In general, miscible polymer blends exhibit a complex behavior of the molecular mobility. For an A/B blend the relaxation times of component A and component B are affected by the spatial local compositional heterogeneity, present in binary systems on a microscopic level, regardless of the macroscopic homogeneity. Here, a combination of broadband dielectric and specific heat spectroscopy was employed to study the dynamically asymmetric PVME/PS blend with seven different compositions, focusing on samples with high PS contents. Considering that PS is dielectrically invisible, BDS is a powerful technique to study the response of PVME, as it is affected by PS segments. In this work the well-known binary relaxation times distribution of PVME in a blend, originating from the spatial local heterogeneity, was studied over ten decades in frequency, for the first time in literature. Secondly, one of the detected processes, α’-relaxation, shows a crossover from high-temperature behavior (system in equilibrium) towards a low temperature regime, where PS undergoes the thermal glass transition, resulting in confined segmental dynamics of PVME within a frozen network of PS. Here, we introduce a precise mathematical tool to distinguish between the temperature dependency regimes of the process, and examine the composition dependence of the crossover temperature, detected by dielectric spectroscopy. Moreover, the dielectric data was compared in detail with results obtained by specific heat spectroscopy. This comparison provides new insights in the dynamics and dynamic heterogeneity of the PVME/PS blend system.
Dynamics of nanoscopically confined PVME in thin films of an asymmetric miscible PVME/PS blend
(2018)
In recent years, substantial efforts have been devoted to investigating nanoscopic confinement of polymers, and its effect on glassy dynamics. Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy (BDS) was used to study the dynamics of ultra-thin films of PVME/PS 50/50 wt% blend, employing a novel nano-structured capacitor sample arrangement. The investigated system shows a complex dynamic behavior. First, an α-relaxation, related to a bulk-like layer was found. Second, an α’-relaxation was observed, characteristic for dynamically asymmetric blends, where the out of equilibrium dynamics is attributed to weakly-cooperative PVME segments relaxing within a frozen environment of PS segments. Third, for thinnest films, an Arrhenius-like process was dominant in the dielectric spectra, indicating localized fluctuations of the segments. Relaxation rates of this process resembled that of the degenerated α-relaxation of the adsorbed layer, found for pure PVME [1], thus it was assigned accordingly. For thinnest films, this process undergoes a further confinement, due to the topological constraints, introduced by PS. Such multiple confinement effect has not been reported for ultra-thin films of polymer blends, before this study [2].
[1] Madkour, S. et al. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2017, 9, 7535.
[2] Madkour, S. et al. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2017, 9, 37289.
The interphase between the inorganic filler and the polymer matrix is considered as one of the most important characteristics of inorganic/polymer nanocomposites. The segmental dynamics of this interphase is expected to be altered as compared to the pure matrix, which might percolate into the entire system. For instance, it was found that a so-called Rigid Amorphous Phase (RAF) is formed by adsorption of segments onto the nanoparticles yielding to its immobilization. The RAF is available from the decrease of the specific heat capacity Δcp in the glass transition region of the nanocomposites. Here, precise Temperature Modulated DSC (TMDSC) was employed to study Δcp of epoxy/Boehmite nanocomposites with different nanofiller concentrations. Surprisingly, the investigated system showed an increase of Δcp with increasing filler concentration up to 10 wt%. This implies an increased fraction of mobile segments, and is in accordance with the found decreased value of the glass transition temperature Tg. Although for higher filler contents Tg further slightly decreases, Δcp decreases in contrary, indicating a formation of RAF. This behavior was discussed as a competition of mobilization effects, due to an incomplete crosslinking reaction, and the formation of RAF.
For inorganic/polymer nanocomposites a so-called Rigid Amorphous Phase (RAF) is formed in the interfacial region by adsorption of polymer segments onto the nanoparticles. The segmental dynamics of RAF is expected to be altered, as compared to the pure matrix, which might percolate into the entire system, affecting the overall nanocomposite properties. A combination of two relaxation spectroscopy techniques (Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy (BDS) and Specific Heat Spectroscopy (SHS) in a form of Temperature Modulated DSC (TMDSC)) as well as Fast Scanning Calorimetry (FSC) was employed to investigate the structure and molecular mobility of nanocomposites based on Epoxy and Layered Doubled Hydroxides with different nanoparticle content.
First, BDS investigations proved the existence of a process, which is present only for nanocomposites, assigned to the dynamics of polymer segments within RAF. Second, the amount of RAF was quantified by analyzing the change of specific heat capacity step of nanocomposites, comparing to the pure material.
Thirdly, the glass transition of nanocomposites was studied with FSC, applying high heating rates (500-10 000 K/s). Considering that all techniques probe essentially the same molecular process, an activation plot was constructed, delivering a complete picture of the molecular mobility and structure of the polymer nanocomposites including RAF.
For inorganic/polymer nanocomposites a so-called Rigid Amorphous Phase (RAF) is formed in the interfacial region by adsorption of polymer segments onto the nanoparticles. The segmental dynamics of RAF is expected to be altered, as compared to the pure matrix, which might percolate to the entire system, affecting the overall nanocomposite properties. A combination of two relaxation spectroscopy techniques (Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy (BDS) and Temperature Modulated DSC (TMDSC)) as well as Fast Scanning Calorimetry (FSC) was employed to investigate the structure and molecular mobility of nanocomposites based on Epoxy and Layered Doubled Hydroxides with different nanoparticle content. First, BDS investigations proved the existence of a process, which is present only for nanocomposites, assigned to the dynamics of polymer segments within RAF. Second, the amount of RAF was quantified by analyzing the change of specific heat capacity step of nanocomposites, comparing to the pure material. Thirdly, the glass transition of nanocomposites was studied with FSC, applying high heating rates (0.5-10 kK/s). Considering that all techniques probe essentially the same molecular process, an activation plot was constructed, delivering a complete picture of the molecular mobility and structure of the polymer nanocomposites including RAF.
Over the past decades research on the molecular dynamics of miscible polymer blends is of topical interest in the literature, to understand the segmental mobility of individual components, as it is affected by blending. In general, miscible polymer blends exhibit a complex dynamic behavior. For an A/B blend the relaxation times of component A and component B are affected by the spatial local compositional heterogeneity, present in binary systems on a microscopic level, regardless of the macroscopic homogeneity. Here, a combination of broadband dielectric and specific heat spectroscopy was employed to study the dynamically asymmetric PVME/PS blend with seven different compositions, focusing on samples with high PS contents. Considering that PS is dielectrically invisible, BDS is a powerful technique to study the response of PVME, as it is affected by PS segments. Here, three separate relaxation processes were found by dielectric investigations, related to confined or constrained PVME segments due to the spatial local compositional heterogeneities, which is in contrary to the previous literature findings [1]. Moreover, the dielectric data was compared with results obtained by specific heat spectroscopy, where a fourth relaxation process was found, due to the cooperative fluctuations of PVME and PS.
[1] Colmenero, J., Arbe, A. Soft Matter, 2007, 3, 1474.
The structure and molecular dynamics of thin polymer films are of topical interest of soft matter-physics. Commonly, spatial structural heterogeneities of 1D confined thin films (surface, bulk-like and adsorbed layer), are expected to alter the glassy dynamics, compared to the bulk. Here, Specific Heat Spectroscopy (SHS) was used, to investigate the glassy dynamics of thin films of an asymmetric miscible PVME/PS 25/75 wt% blend. SHS measurements showed a non-monotonous thickness dependence of the dynamic Tg, on the contrary to the previously investigated PVME/PS 50/50 wt%. For PVME/PS 25/75 wt% thin films (> 30 nm), due to the presence of PVME-rich adsorbed and surface layers, the bulk-like layer experienced a thickness dependent increase of PS concentration. This led to a systematic increase of dynamic Tg. Further decrease of the film thickness (< 30 nm), resulted in a decrease of dynamic Tg, ascribed to the influence of the surface layer, which has a high molecular mobility. This is the first study, which shows deviations of dynamic Tg of thin films, compared to the bulk, resulting from the counterbalance of the free surface and adsorbed layer.
In recent years, substantial efforts have been devoted to investigating nanoscopic confinement of polymers, and its effect on glassy dynamics. Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy (BDS) was used to study the dynamics of ultra-thin films of PVME/PS 50/50 wt% blend, employing a novel nano-structured capacitor sample arrangement. The investigated system shows a complex dynamic behavior. First, an α-relaxation, related to a bulk-like layer was found. Second, an α’-relaxation was observed, characteristic for dynamically asymmetric blends, where the out of equilibrium dynamics is attributed to weakly-cooperative PVME segments relaxing within a frozen environment of PS segments. Thirdly, for thinnest films, an Arrhenius-like process was dominant in the dielectric spectra, indicating localized fluctuations of the segments. Relaxation rates of this process resembled that of the degenerated α-relaxation of the adsorbed layer, found for pure PVME, thus it was assigned accordingly. For thinnest films, this process undergoes a further confinement, due to the topological constraints, introduced by PS. Such multiple confinement effect has not been reported for ultra-thin films of polymer blends, before this study.
The polymer matrix region near a filler surface, termed as the interface, witnessed increasing interest, due to its possible influence on the macroscopic properties of the nanocomposite. The interphase is expecting to have different segmental dynamic, as compared to the pure matrix, which can percolate into the entire system. Here, the segmental dynamics of epoxy/Boehmite nanocomposite was studied by Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy. It was found that an artificial relaxation process is present in the nanocomposite, on the contrary to the pure epoxy system. It was assigned to constrained fluctuations of polymer chains in the interfacial region, due to the nanofiller. However, the overall dynamic Tg of the system decreased with increasing filler concentration, indicating higher segmental mobility. This was in accordance with Temperature Modulated DSC investigations of specific heat capacity of the system, which was found to increase with increasing filler concentration, up to 10 wt%, indicating increasing mobility of the polymer matrix segments. Surprisingly, for the highest filler content, the heat capacity decreases, implying a formation of an immobilized rigid amorphous phase in the interfacial region.
A detailed calorimetric and dielectric study on two epoxy-based nanocomposite system was performed employing bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (DGEBA) cured with diethylenetriamine (DETA) and methyl tetrahydrophtalic acid anhydride (MTHPA) aas the polymer matrix and taurine-modified MgAL layered double hydroxide (T-LDH) and boehmite as nanofiller. The molecular dynamics investigation revealed an intrinsic structural heterogeneity of the epoxy materials. Moreover the polymer/particle interphase was qualitatively and quantitavely investigated.
Spatial Inhomogeneity, Interfaces and Complex Vitrification Behavior of Epoxy-based Materials
(2021)
This work deals with an in-depth comparative investigation of the structure, molecular mobility and vitrification kinetics of three bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (DGEBA)-based materials with different nanofillers: taurine-modified layered double hydroxide (T-LDH) and halloysite nanotubes (HNTs). The chosen methodology comprises I) small – and wide – angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) II) calorimetry in the forms of a) conventional DSC and b) static fast scanning calorimetry (FSC), III) broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS), as well as IV) specific heat spectroscopy in the forms of a) temperature modulated DSC, and b) temperature modulated FSC.
It was found for inorganic/polymer nanocomposites that a so-called Rigid Amorphous Phase (RAF) is formed in the interfacial region by adsorption of polymer segments onto the nanoparticles. The segmental dynamics of RAF is expected to be altered, as compared to the pure matrix, which might percolate into the entire system, affecting the overall nanocomposite properties. Here, the structure and molecular mobility of epoxy-based PNCs with different nanofillers (layered double hydroxide and boehmite) was studied by a combination of calorimetric and X-Ray scattering techniques. Temperature modulated DSC (TMDSC) showed that depending on the nanofiller, RAF can reach up to 40 wt % of the system or, on the contrary, the overall mobility of the matrix might increase due to the presence of particles. Such contrasting results, including the high amount of RAF, which was never shown before for epoxy-based PNCs, emphasize the importance of interfaces. Additionally, glass transition and glassy dynamics were investigated by a novel technique, Flash DSC (heating rates up to 10 kK/s) employed for the first time to a thermosetting system and electrospun fibers, which did not result in their degradation. It was used to study both the vitrification kinetics and glassy dynamics of the PNCs, for instance further confirming the presence of RAF and its impact on the overall material properties.
Polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) with inorganic nanofillers dispersed in a polymer matrix have been widely studied from the 1990s, since the pioneering work by Toyota Central Research. The possibility of producing advanced tailor-made, light weight and low-cost materials, inspired academic and commercial research towards numerous potential applications, facilitating PNCs to become a billion-dollar global industry. The introduction of nanoparticles (NPs) to a polymer matrix is expected to result in improved properties. The outstanding performance of PNCs is determined not only by the characteristics of the used components but also by their phase morphology, including the dispersion of NPs and interfacial properties. Understanding of structure-property relationships is particularly important for polymer nanocomposites with high industrial significance, such as epoxy-based materials reinforced with inorganic nanofillers. These PNCs have been successfully adopted by the marine, automotive and aerospace industries, although they are still rarely studied on a fundamental level. Therefore, this thesis aims for a detailed understanding of the structure, molecular mobility and vitrification kinetics first, of two epoxy-based materials with different network structures and second, of the corresponding nanocomposites with different alumina-based nanofillers. The first system considered (EP/T-LDH) was based on bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (DGEBA) cured with diethylenetriamine (DETA) and taurine-modified layered double hydroxide (T-LDH) NPs. The taurine molecule bears additional functionalities that could enhance the interactions between the matrix and the nanofiller, improving the interphase formation. The seconds system (EP/BNP) was based on DGEBA and methyl tetrahydrophtalic acid anhydride (MTHPA) as a hardener, reinforced with boehmite nanoparticles (BNPs). The comparison of the two systems enables for a comparative study on the effect of different hardeners and the morphology and modification of the alumina-based nanofillers on the material behavior. The materials were investigated employing complementary techniques with different sensitivities and frequency windows. The following methodology was used: transmission electron microscopy (TEM), small – and wide – angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS), broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS), calorimetry in a form of conventional DSC and fast scanning calorimetry (FSC), as well as specific heat spectroscopy (SHS) in a form of temperature modulated DSC, temperature modulated FSC and static FSC by calculating the thermal relaxation rates from the cooperativity approach. The FSC method (based on adiabatic chip calorimetry to probe micrometer-sized samples) was successfully employed in this work, exploiting all its possibilities for the first time in literature for a PNC. Moreover, a systematic analysis technique was established to overcome the problem of vague glass transition regions observed for highly loaded PNCs in the heat flow and heat capacity curves.
First, TEM, SAXS/WAXS and indirectly BDS and SHS were employed to obtain the information about the approximate morphology of the PNCs. It was found that epoxy-based materials exhibit a structural heterogeneity in a form of regions with different average crosslinking density. This was indicated by multiple-peak scattering pattern of the polymer matrix and two distinct α-processes (dynamic glass transition) related to the cooperative fluctuation of the epoxy network found by BDS and SHS. This was described for the first time for epoxy-based materials. The two α-relaxations were evidenced differently for the two systems, which is related to different network structures and dipole moments due to the employed hardeners. Nevertheless, structural heterogeneity is an intrinsic feature of these materials, independent of the type of hardener used for the network formation and nanofiller. In addition, matrix inhomogeneities were more pronounced with increasing nanoparticle content. Furthermore, a powerful new technique was applied for X-ray scattering data, using Monte Carlo fits, to describe the NPs dispersion throughout the whole sample volume (as opposed to the local investigations performed by most researches). Additional structural information of the two systems was extracted by BDS and SHS, such as qualitative and quantitative estimation of polymer segments physically adsorbed and/or chemically bonded onto the nanoparticles. Due to the immobilized character of this interphase with respect to the cooperative segmental motions, it is denoted as a rigid amorphous fraction (RAF). For instance, on the contrary to EP/BNP, for EP/T-LDH a dielectrically active process was found, related to the localized fluctuations within RAF. Moreover, the amount of RAF in EP/T-LDH was reaching up to 40 wt % of the system, whereas in EP/BNP it ranged between 1-7 wt %. In the latter case the presence of NPs was found to simultaneously increase and decrease the number of mobile segments, due to the interphase formation and changes in crosslinking density. The difference between the two systems was ascribed to the presence of additional amine functionalities in the T-LDH nanofiller.
Second, employing BDS and SHS, a systematic study on the effect of NPs on the segmental dynamics was performed. For example, depending on the nanofiller, the α-processes related to regions with higher crosslinking density was found to shift to higher and lower temperatures with increasing T-LDH and BNPs concentration, respectively. The observed difference is due to the different synergism of the polymer matrix with the nanofiller.
Third, a detailed investigation of the vitrification kinetics was performed with DSC and FSC. The concentration dependence of the glass transition temperature was found, similar to the behavior of the α-processes. It was shown that, in parallel to the detected main glass transition, epoxy-based materials can exhibit an additional low temperature vitrification mechanism. As expected from the two distinct α-processes, this behavior was however not discussed in prior studies for an unfilled network former. This finding was correlated to the structural heterogeneity evidenced by other techniques.
This thesis, dealing with an in-depth research on the epoxy-based materials that are already successfully employed in numerous applications underlines the necessity of more fundamental research in this field. It shines light on the complexity of these systems and contributes to defining how the structure-property relationships can be determined by combining multiple experimental techniques and analytical methodology.
Although in the last decades epoxy-based nanocomposites have been successfully adopted by the marine, automotive and aerospace industries they are still rarely studied on a fundamental level. This work deals with an in-depth comparative investigation of the structure, molecular mobility and vitrification kinetics of three bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (DGEBA)-based materials with different nanofillers: I) taurine-modified layered double hydroxide (T-LDH), II) boehmite (BNPs) and III) halloysite nanotubes (HNTs). Moreover, the effect of different hardeners (diethylene triamine and methyl tetrahydrophtalic acid anhydride) on the unfilled epoxy matrix is addressed as well. The chosen methodology comprises I) small – and wide – angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) II) calorimetry in the forms of a) conventional DSC and b) static fast scanning calorimetry (FSC), III) broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS), as well as IV) specific heat spectroscopy in the forms of a) temperature modulated DSC, and b) temperature modulated FSC. The combination of these techniques proved an intrinsic spatial heterogeneity of epoxy-based materials, evidenced by two separate segmental relaxation processes. Although, depending on the hardener the response of the systems to calorimetric and dielectric investigations was different, in a broader sense similar conclusions can be extracted on the structural heterogeneity. As expected from the two distinct α-processes, it was shown that, in parallel to the main glass transition, epoxy-based materials can exhibit an additional low temperature vitrification mechanism, which was not discussed in prior studies for an unfilled network former. Furthermore, the interfacial region (so-called rigid amorphous fraction) was qualitatively and quantitatively addressed, in dependence of the employed nanofiller structure.
Two epoxy-based nanocomposites with different nanofillers (layered double hydroxide and boehmite) were investigated employing temperature modulated DSC, flash DSC and broadband dielectric spectroscopy. Detailed investigation on the molecular mobility of the two systems showed the effect of the fillers on the structure of the bulk epoxy matrix and the interface formed at the polymer/particle interface
n this work, three new pharmaceutical hydrated salts of ciprofloxacin with selected derivatives of benzoic acid, namely 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 4-aminobenzoic acid and gallic acid, were obtained and systematically investigated by several solid-state analytical techniques. In situ Raman spectroscopy was applied to elucidate the alternative pathways of the solid forms' formation under mechanochemical conditions. Crystal structure analysis and a CSD survey allowed us to establish a distinct supramolecular motif formed by infinite columnar stacks of ciprofloxacin dimers arranged in the “head-to-tail” manner. An alternative “head-to-head” packing arrangement was only observed in the crystal of the hydrated ciprofloxacin salt with 4-aminobenzoic acid. In addition, the pH-solubility behavior of the solid forms was thoroughly investigated. Furthermore, a distinct structure–property relationship between the specific features of the supramolecular organization of the hydrated salts and their solubility was observed and discussed.
Nachdem Jahrzehnte die Grenzfläche zwischen Kohlefaser und Duroplastmatrix optimiert wurde liegt das Augenmerk heute auf der Polymermatrix selbst. Diese lässt sich hinsichtlich ihres Elastizitätsmoduls und ihrer Bruchfestigkeit verbessern, indem Nanopartikel aus Böhmit (AlOOH) eindispergiert werden. Der Vortrag geht auf integrale und hochauflösend-bildgebende Methoden ein die ein Verständnis der komplexen Zusammenhänge ermöglichen. Nach einer chemischen in-situ Analyse des Aushärtvorgangs, aus welchem sich die Bedeutung der externer Parameter ablesen lässt, werden diverse hochauflösende, neue Methoden der Rasterkraftmikroskopie (AFM) eingeführt. Der lokalen Bestimmung des E-Moduls der Nanopartikel folgen Ausführungen zum temperaturabhängigen Chemismus des Böhmits, der während der Aushärtung Wasser freisetzt. Die hochauflösende Bestimmung der Oberflächenpotentiale, der Steifigkeit, der attraktiven Kräfte zwischen Spitze und Probe sowie der Energiedissipation im Kontakt stellen auf der Nanoskala eine komplexe Datenquelle dar, die auf der Makroskala einer Ergänzung bedarf: Durch Kombination von dynamisch-mechanisch-thermischer Analyse einerseits und Kartierung physikalischer Eigenschaften auf der Nanoskala andererseits kann der Zusammenhang zwischen chemischer Steuerung der Netzwerkbildung und den mechanischen Eigenschaften des Nanokomposits geklärt werden. Überraschend ist, dass bei geeigneter Steuerung der lokale E-Modul der Polymermatrix den des Füllstoffs übersteigt. Die Rissfortschrittsenergie wird in Böhmit-modifiziertem Epoxy verbessert absorbiert, die These dazu ist, dass die (010)-Gleitebenen, die nur durch Wasserstoffbrücken zusammen gehalten werden, einigermaßen schadlos geschert werden können. Daraus folgt, dass das System auf der Nanoskala über einen, wenn auch begrenzten, Selbstheilmechanismus verfügt. Zudem wird durch die hohe Heterogenität der Steifigkeit und Energiedissipation des Nanokomposits eine Risstrajektorie vielfach umgelenkt und somit früher gestoppt. Ergebnisse dieses Vortrags stammen aus einer Zusammenarbeit innerhalb des DFG-Forscherverbundes FOR2021 „Wirkprinzipien nanoskaliger Matrixadditive für den Faserverbundleichtbau“.
Nach einer Übersicht zu den immer schneller aktualisierenden Rahmenbedingungen von Politik und Gesellschaft folgt eine Übersicht zu materialwissenschaftlichen Problemen des Recyclings von Kunststoffen. Lösungsansätze aus der Forschung reichen von einfacher Optimierung bis hin zur radikalen Neukonstruktion der polymeren Werkstoffe. Aus dem bereits möglichen Ansatz "performance-by-design" wird ein neuer Weg des "recycling-by-design" adressiert. Dies inkludiert methodisch eine skalenübergreifende Modellierung und die Depolarisation bis zum Monomer.
Stone deterioration is the result of a complex interaction of external physical, chemical and biological forces with the mineralogical-petrophysical properties of the stone. With a better understanding of how these properties are linked to material behavior and durability, more effective measures for stone conservation can be developed. Studying these interactions in tuff is particularly complex due to the naturally high heterogeneity of tuff rocks.
The first aim of a current research project is to combine the results of recent and older studies on tuff deterioration. Furthermore, the literature overview is complemented by our own investigation of Weibern and Ettringen tuff, with a focus on pore structure characteristics.