An unexpected N-dependence in the viscosity reduction in all-polymer nanocomposite

Tao Chen, Huan-Yu Zhao, Rui Shi, Wen-Feng Lin, Xiang-Meng Jia, Hu-Jun Qian (), Zhong-Yuan Lu, Xing-Xing Zhang, Yan-Kai Li and Zhao-Yan Sun
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Tao Chen: Jilin University
Huan-Yu Zhao: Jilin University
Rui Shi: Jilin University
Wen-Feng Lin: Jilin University
Xiang-Meng Jia: Jilin University
Hu-Jun Qian: Jilin University
Zhong-Yuan Lu: Jilin University
Xing-Xing Zhang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yan-Kai Li: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Zhao-Yan Sun: Chinese Academy of Sciences

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Adding small nanoparticles (NPs) into polymer melt can lead to a non-Einstein-like decrease in viscosity. However, the underlying mechanism remains a long-standing unsolved puzzle. Here, for an all-polymer nanocomposite formed by linear polystyrene (PS) chains and PS single-chain nanoparticles (SCNPs), we perform large-scale molecular dynamics simulations and experimental rheology measurements. We show that with a fixed (small) loading of the SCNP, viscosity reduction (VR) effect can be largely amplified with an increase in matrix chain length $$N$$N, and that the system with longer polymer chains will have a larger VR. We demonstrate that such $$N$$N-dependent VR can be attributed to the friction reduction experienced by polymer segment blobs which have similar size and interact directly with these SCNPs. A theoretical model is proposed based on the tube model. We demonstrate that it can well describe the friction reduction experienced by melt polymers and the VR effect in these composite systems.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13410-z

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