The Effect of Inclusion of Nanoparticles on the Rheological and Morphological Properties of Triblock Copolymer Gels

Nanocomposite materials were prepared by embedding nanosized particles into triblock copolymer gels. The properties related to morphology, viscoelasticity and thermal stability were explored and discussed. Dynamic rheological measurements of the resultant NCTPE gels showed that at temperature between 30 degrees C to 40 degrees C below the gel point, the nanocomposite thermoplastic elastomer gels (NCTPEGs) have dynamic storage modulus greater than loss modulus (G' and G"), thereby indicating that at ambient temperature a physical network was still present despite the addition of nanoparticles. Storage modulus slightly increases as the nanoparticles increases. The morphology revealed that nanoparticles used to generate nanocomposite triblock copolymer gels are dispersed generally within the swollen copolymer and or solvent. Thermal degradation was improved with addition of nanoparticles. This research hopefully gives new advancement in the field of nanocomposite polymer gels with wider application.