Use of flow microcalorimetry and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis for probing interphase structure in poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene)/magnesium hydroxide composites

Abstract

Interactions between magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2 particles (both untreated and treated with 16-methyl heptadecanoic acid (isostearic acid)) and low molar mass poly(styrene) (PS) and poly(butadiene) (PB) have been studied by flow microcalorimetry (FMC) and have been related to the interphase structure in poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) (SBS)/Mg(OH)2 composites using dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). The FMC studies revealed that both polymers adsorbed strongly onto an untreated magnesium hydroxide surface though the PB showed greater irreversible adsorption from the heptane carrier fluid. Diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS) studies on filler samples removed from the FMC cell after the adsorption-desorption cycle confirmed strong polymer filler interaction. Adsorption of the low molar mass samples of PS and PB onto a pre-adsorbed monolayer of isostearic acid on Mg(OH)2 resulted in a very significant reduction in polymer adsorption activity due to blockage of adsorption sites. DMTA studies revealed that strong adsorption of PS and PB blocks of SBS onto untreated filler in composites containing 60% w/w Mg(OH)2 gave rise to phase mixing that led to an 18 °C reduction in the T g of the PS phase relative to that in the unfilled matrix. However, in equivalent composites based on isostearic acid treated filler a smaller reduction (10 °C) was observed, therefore reflecting reduced filler-matrix interaction and reduced phase mixing.