Effect of Hybrid TiO2 Nanoparticles with Controlled Morphology on Rheological Properties of Poly(styrene-Co-acrylonitrile) Nanocomposites

The variation of the nanoparticle’s morphology is an efficient way to tune the properties of polymer nanocomposite. Herein, the TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized within the polymer templates. Molecular brushes with poly (acrylic acid)-block-polystyrene (PAA-b-PS) side chains were used as polymer templates, while four different particle precursors were applied to vary particles’ morphology, titanium (IV) 2-ethylhexanoate, titanium (IV) bis(ammonium lactato)dihydroxide, titanium (IV) isopropoxide and titanium (IV) butoxide. Although the synthetic conditions for generation of TiO2 were essentially the same, particles with varied morphology were obtained. Such hybrid systems containing the TiO2 nanoparticles loaded within polymer templates were introduced into poly (styrene-co-acrylonitrile) (SAN) and formed final composites with varied rheological properties. In SAN/TiO2@template composites, the solid nanometric phase of the hybrid particles TiO2@template acted as an active filler, generating mechanical reinforcement and affecting viscoelastic properties.