Unique structure and new thermophysical properties of poly(ethylene oxide) in nanocomposites based on nanoporous polypropylene matrices

Abstract

AbstractPolypropylene (PP)−poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) nanocomposites were prepared by tensile drawing of PP films in water–ethanol solutions containing PEO with molecular masses of 4, 20, and 200 kDa via environmental crazing (EC). EC of PP films is accompanied by the development of nanoporous structure, which is loaded with the PEO component. The content of PEO in the PP − PEO nanocomposites can achieve 40%. Crystallization of PEO within the nanoporous PP matrix proceeds under the conditions of the confined space: as a result, the degree of crystallinity and melting temperature of PEO are markedly reduced. This effect appears to be more pronounced as the molecular mass of PEO increases. The direction of orientation of the PEO crystalline lamellae also depends on the molecular mass of PEO. The prepared PP‐PEO composites with new thermophysical properties of PEO can be used as gas‐separation membranes as well as in microelectronics and electrochemical devices.