Dynamics of polymers in organosilicate nanocomposites

Dynamic secondary ion mass spectrometry (DSIMS) measurements were performed to measure the effects of functionlized organosilicate clay (Cloisite 6A) on the tracer diffusion coefficient, D, in polystyrene (PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrices. The results indicate that D is unaffected by the addition of 5% (by volume) of PS and is reduced by a factor of 3 with the addition of the same volume fraction in a PMMA matrix. The same ratio was also obtained for the extrapolated zero shear rate viscosity of PS and PMMA melt-mixed composites with the same volume fraction of clay. DSIMS was also used to measure the mobility of the clay platelets, which was found to be much lower than the polymer chains in both matrices. Examination of the sample morphology with scanning force and transmission electron microscopy indicated that in contrast to melt mixing, spin casting produced a large degree of exfoliation in both PS and PMMA matrices. Hence the difference in the dynamics in the presence of clay was ascribed to preferential interactions between the PMMA polymer and the platelet surface, rather than the extent of exfoliation.