{"title":"Reprocessable Cross-Linked EVA/Silica Nanocomposites with Superior Mechanical Properties via One-Step and Scalable Reactive Blending","authors":"Haixin Nong, Xiaopei Li, Yongjie Zhang","doi":"10.1007/s10924-024-03306-5","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p>Organic/inorganic nanocomposites uniquely combine the dual advantages of inorganic nanomaterials and organic polymers. However, poor compatibility between inorganic nanoparticles and polymer matrices always arises as a huge obstacle to be addressed while designing and preparing high performance organic/inorganic nanocomposites. In situ surface grafting of ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) onto nanosilica and partial cross-linking of EVA via dynamic Si–O–C bonds with nanosilica as the core were simultaneously achieved via the transesterification reactions between the inherent Si–OH groups on the surface of nanosilica and the ester groups in EVA. The reactions were conducted thorough a one-step, simple and scalable reactive blending approach. The cross-linking reaction of EVA was evidenced by torque curves, FT-IR spectra and gel fraction testing. Uniform dispersion of silica particles in EVA matrix was observed for resulting EVA/silica nanocomposites due to surface modification of silica. Consequently, tremendous enhancement in mechanical properties of resultant EVA/silica nanocomposites were detected. Compared to the original EVA, the tensile strengths and tensile modulus of the EVA/silica nanocomposites increased by 72.5% and 37.8%, respectively, while the elongation at breaks of the EVA/silica nanocomposites remained as high as that of the original EVA. Additionally, the dynamic nature of Si–O–C cross-linkages enabled partially cross-linked EVA/silica nanocomposites to demonstrate exceptional reprocess ability and recyclability. This was evidenced by the sustained mechanical properties of the EVA/silica nanocomposites, which were still maintained even after undergoing three rounds of reprocessing.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Graphical Abstract</h3>\n","PeriodicalId":659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.7000,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-024-03306-5","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Organic/inorganic nanocomposites uniquely combine the dual advantages of inorganic nanomaterials and organic polymers. However, poor compatibility between inorganic nanoparticles and polymer matrices always arises as a huge obstacle to be addressed while designing and preparing high performance organic/inorganic nanocomposites. In situ surface grafting of ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) onto nanosilica and partial cross-linking of EVA via dynamic Si–O–C bonds with nanosilica as the core were simultaneously achieved via the transesterification reactions between the inherent Si–OH groups on the surface of nanosilica and the ester groups in EVA. The reactions were conducted thorough a one-step, simple and scalable reactive blending approach. The cross-linking reaction of EVA was evidenced by torque curves, FT-IR spectra and gel fraction testing. Uniform dispersion of silica particles in EVA matrix was observed for resulting EVA/silica nanocomposites due to surface modification of silica. Consequently, tremendous enhancement in mechanical properties of resultant EVA/silica nanocomposites were detected. Compared to the original EVA, the tensile strengths and tensile modulus of the EVA/silica nanocomposites increased by 72.5% and 37.8%, respectively, while the elongation at breaks of the EVA/silica nanocomposites remained as high as that of the original EVA. Additionally, the dynamic nature of Si–O–C cross-linkages enabled partially cross-linked EVA/silica nanocomposites to demonstrate exceptional reprocess ability and recyclability. This was evidenced by the sustained mechanical properties of the EVA/silica nanocomposites, which were still maintained even after undergoing three rounds of reprocessing.
有机/无机纳米复合材料独特地结合了无机纳米材料和有机聚合物的双重优势。然而,在设计和制备高性能有机/无机纳米复合材料时,无机纳米粒子与聚合物基质之间的兼容性差始终是一个需要解决的巨大障碍。通过纳米二氧化硅表面固有的 Si-OH 基团与 EVA 中的酯基团之间的酯化反应,在纳米二氧化硅上实现了乙烯-醋酸乙烯共聚物 (EVA) 的原位表面接枝以及以纳米二氧化硅为核心通过动态 Si-O-C 键实现 EVA 的部分交联。反应采用一步法、简单且可扩展的反应性混合方法进行。EVA 的交联反应可通过扭矩曲线、傅立叶变换红外光谱和凝胶分数测试得到证明。由于对二氧化硅进行了表面改性,在 EVA 基体中观察到二氧化硅颗粒均匀分散在 EVA/二氧化硅纳米复合材料中。因此,EVA/二氧化硅纳米复合材料的机械性能大大提高。与原始 EVA 相比,EVA/二氧化硅纳米复合材料的拉伸强度和拉伸模量分别提高了 72.5% 和 37.8%,而 EVA/二氧化硅纳米复合材料的断裂伸长率与原始 EVA 一样高。此外,Si-O-C 交联的动态性质使部分交联的 EVA/二氧化硅纳米复合材料表现出卓越的再加工能力和可回收性。EVA/二氧化硅纳米复合材料的持续机械性能证明了这一点,即使在经过三轮再加工后,其机械性能仍然保持不变。
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Polymers and the Environment fills the need for an international forum in this diverse and rapidly expanding field. The journal serves a crucial role for the publication of information from a wide range of disciplines and is a central outlet for the publication of high-quality peer-reviewed original papers, review articles and short communications. The journal is intentionally interdisciplinary in regard to contributions and covers the following subjects - polymers, environmentally degradable polymers, and degradation pathways: biological, photochemical, oxidative and hydrolytic; new environmental materials: derived by chemical and biosynthetic routes; environmental blends and composites; developments in processing and reactive processing of environmental polymers; characterization of environmental materials: mechanical, physical, thermal, rheological, morphological, and others; recyclable polymers and plastics recycling environmental testing: in-laboratory simulations, outdoor exposures, and standardization of methodologies; environmental fate: end products and intermediates of biodegradation; microbiology and enzymology of polymer biodegradation; solid-waste management and public legislation specific to environmental polymers; and other related topics.