On the Property Improvement of Low Filler Loaded Polyolefine Nanocomposites

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Klaus Friedrich (†)
• Subject Area: Polymer Materials
• Term: from 2001 to 2006
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5321824

Mechanical properties of polymers can be improved by incorporating particles at the expense of deteriorated processability and increased weight due to the higher filler fraction. To overcome such disadvantages, a viable method will be developed by the present project; it allows to enhance the strength and toughness of polymers by adding only a small amount of modified nanoparticles using existing compounding techniques. This content is much lower than the one required for conventional particulate composites. Through irradiation grafting, nanoparticle agglomerates turn into a nano-composite microstructure (comprised of the nanoparticles and the grafted, homopolymerized secondary polymer), which in turn builds up a strong interfacial interaction with the surrounding, primary polymeric matrix during the subsequent mixing. Unlike the approaches for manufacturing of the other types of nanocomposites, the current method is characterized by many advantages, such as simple, low cost, easy to be controlled, and broader applicability. During the execution of the project, greatest attention will be focussed on (1) design and tailoring of the molecular structure of the grafting polymer on the nanoparticles, and (2) understanding of mechanisms of the improvement of properties through a careful characterization of the nanocomposites.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: China
• Participating Person: Professor Dr. Ming Qiu Zhang