Microemulsion nanocomposites: phase diagram, rheology and structure using a combined small angle neutron scattering and reverse Monte Carlo approach

The effect of silicananoparticles on transient microemulsion networks made of microemulsion droplets and telechelic copolymer molecules in water is studied, as a function of droplet size and concentration, amount of copolymer, and nanoparticle volume fraction. The phase diagram is found to be affect...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Soft matter 2010-01, Vol.6 (21), p.5605-5614
Main Authors: Puech, Nicolas, Mora, Serge, Phou, Ty, Porte, Grégoire, Jestin, Jacques, Oberdisse, Julian
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Condensed Matter
Droplets
Microemulsions
Monte Carlo methods
Nanostructure
Networks
Phase diagrams
Physics
Reinforcement
Soft Condensed Matter
Surface chemistry
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Summary:The effect of silicananoparticles on transient microemulsion networks made of microemulsion droplets and telechelic copolymer molecules in water is studied, as a function of droplet size and concentration, amount of copolymer, and nanoparticle volume fraction. The phase diagram is found to be affected, and in particular the percolation threshold characterized by rheology is shifted upon addition of nanoparticles, suggesting participation of the particles in the network. This leads to a peculiar reinforcement behaviour in such microemulsion nanocomposites, the silica influencing both the modulus and the relaxation time. The reinforcement is modelled based on nanoparticles connected to the network viadroplet adsorption. Contrast-variation small angle neutron scattering coupled to a reverse Monte Carlo approach is used to analyse the microstructure. The rather surprising intensity curves are shown to be in good agreement with the adsorption of droplets on the nanoparticle surface.
ISSN:1744-683X
1744-6848
DOI:10.1039/c0sm00446d