Detection in a single experiment of thermal transitions of the constituents in PS/BaTiO3 composites

Abstract

Thermal transitions of the constituents of a polymer matrix composite have been determined in a single experiment, “in-situ” and non-destructively. The intrinsic fluorescence of polystyrene, PS, was used to detect its own glass transition temperature and the Curie transition of BaTiO3 submicrometric particles in PS/BaTiO3 composites. Two clear changes in the fluorescence tendencies with temperature pointed out the thermal transitions. In all cases, the different abilities of forming phenyl multimers seem to be the cause of the changes observed. The amount of filler particles in the composites does not affect significantly either the Tg of PS or the Curie transition temperature of BaTiO3.