Study on two-dimensional small-angle X-ray scattering of in situ silica filled nanocomposite elastomer during deformation

Morphological change of in situ generated silica particles was investigated by a time-resolved two-dimensional small-angle X-ray scattering technique and a simultaneous tensile measurement. The in situ silica particles with diameter ca 34 nm were homogeneously dispersed in a rubbery matrix and the morphological change of the particles was followed up to the elongation ratio alpha = 2 during stretching and from alpha = 2.5 during retracting. The observed two-dimensional small-angle X-ray scattering patterns agreed with the simulation results by Rharbi et al. [Europhys. Lett. (1999), 46, 472-478] where a shear displacement model was proposed for the deformation mode of their soft nanocomposite.