Single chain, soft nanoparticles are interesting as models for self-assembling macromolecules, and as novel additives in polymer nanocomposite. We have developed a nano-emulsion based synthetic methodology that fabricates soft nanoparticles that can best be described a gel like cross linked core with a fuzzy surface of PS chain ends. Moreover, synthetic conditions correlate well to internal morphology of the soft nanoparticle, providing tunable control of the nanoparticle internal structure and size. Our recent results have shown that the addition of these soft nanoparticles can significantly alter the diffusion of surrounding polymer chains and that the soft nanoparticles are not stationary in the melt, but their motion is consistent with the cooperative motion of polymer chains and soft nanoparticles.In this talk, we will present results that document the impact of the relative size of the soft nanoparticle and linear polymer chain on the dynamics of the linear polymer, as well as the impact of soft nanoparticle loading on the polymer chain diffusion. In both systems, theresults indicate that the competition between a topological barrier effect and enhancing constraint release define the diffusive dynamics of a given all-polymer nanocomposite. Moreover, in the soft nanoparticle loading study, the diffusion of the linear chain in the all-polymer nanocomposite is faster than that of the same chain in the melt, indicating that the mechanism that accelerates the chain dominates in these systems.

Competing effects in the dynamics of soft nanoparticle polymer composites: Confinement vs. chain acceleration

2019 Fall National Meeting

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