Sol-gel technology was utilized to create artificial silica nanospheres with diameters of 20 and 100 nm for use as filler in polypropylene (PP) composites. To further increase the particle's interaction with the hydrophobic polyolefin matrix, the silica surface was modified by treatment with organic chlorosilanes. Transmission electronic microscopy (TEM), elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy were used to characterize these nanoparticles. It was discovered that for unmodified silica, the 20 nm particles have a stronger impact on the polymeric composite's mechanical and barrier properties.
In today's culture, polyolefin materials play a significant role in both everyday living and high-performance engineering applications. These materials have been able to replace some of the more expensive and less flexible older materials because of their low production costs, simple and inexpensive processing, and favorable characteristics. Additionally, the inclusion of organic and inorganic fillers has widened the field of investigation for new potential uses for these materials. There has been a lot of interest in the study and creation of polymer nanocomposites during the past 20 years, where at least one filler dimension has nanometric dimensions.
Natural aluminosilicate clays have historically been used to study these nanocomposites extensively, mostly due to their high availability and low cost, with positive outcomes. Low concentrations of silica nanoparticles in polymeric matrices can significantly enhance the mechanical, thermic, and barrier properties of these materials. The hydrolysis of the functional groups is the first step in the sol-gel process, which uses organic silanes as its precursors. This is followed by the condensation of the silanol groups. Of course, the mechanism is significantly more intricate and involves numerous parallel events, including the condensation of organic groups from the precursor. Under normal circumstances, hydroxyl groups function as catalysts. Go ahead! And explore the marvelous benefits of the renowned carboxyl-functionalized magnetic silica nanoparticles and non-functionalized silica nanoparticles 1μm.