Shear response of layered silicate nanocomposites

The linear and nonlinear melt state viscoelastic properties for a series of layered silicate based intercalated polymer nanocomposites are studied to elucidate the role of highly anisotropic nanometer thick layers in altering the flow properties of such hybrids. The steady shear viscosities for the nanocomposites exhibit enhanced shear-thinning at all shear rates, with the viscosity at high shear rates being almost independent of silicate loading and comparable to that of the unfilled polymer. Further, the elasticity, as measured by the first normal stress difference, when compared at constant shear stress is surprisingly independent of the silicate loading and identical to that of the unfilled polymer. This unique combination of unfilled polymerlike viscosity and elasticity for these filled nanocomposites, is attributed to the ability of the highly-anisotropic layered silicates to be oriented in the flow direction and results in a minimal contribution by the silicate layers to both the viscosity and the elasticity of the hybrids. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.