Composite Interfaces, Vol.14, No.5-6, 545-557, 2007
Mesostructures and properties of transparent block copolymer/silica nanocomposite monoliths
In this work, three different block copolymer/silica hybrid nanocomposite monoliths that possess mesostructured domains (hexagonal, cubic, and disordered) were prepared through the micellization of the block copolymer during the sol-gel process of a silica precursor. Transparent block copolymer/silica nanocomposite monoliths were obtained from the amphiphilic triblock copolymer poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(propylene oxide)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (EO106PO70EO106, Pluronic F127), which we used to organize the polymerizing silica networks; the ratio between the block copolymer and silica was fixed at 60:40 (wt%). Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to observe the mesostructural ordering. Temperature-dependent SAXS patterns of the cubic structured nanocomposites showed that the calcination process takes place at 210 degrees C. The transmittances of the nanocomposite monoliths over the range of wavelengths from 400 to 800 nm was >85%. From theological measurements at low frequency, it was found that the hexagonally structured monoliths had higher storage and loss moduli relative to the monoliths possessing cubic and disordered structures.
Keywords:block copolymer;silica;mesoporous materials;small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS);thermal properties;rheology