Rheological Role of Stiff Nanorings on Concurrently Strengthening and Toughening Polymer Nanocomposites

Nanorings, which are increasingly uncovered in natural systems and synthesized in man-made materials, exhibit dynamics distinct from those known for linear chains. We show in this study that, when immersed in a polymer melt matrix, segments of a stiff nanoring (SNR) have more facilitated subdiffusion, i.e., with a larger scaling exponent in the mean squared displacement, than those belonging to one flexible counterpart, while the whole SNR is more suppressed by its surroundings. It is revealed that adding SNRs contributes to achieving the long-anticipated rheological objective of soland gel-like characteristics at high and low shearing frequencies, respectively. This study suggests the promising prospect of exploiting SNRs to concurrently strengthen and toughen target polymer nanocomposites.

Automated summary

This study found that segments of a stiff nanoring (SNR) exhibit more facilitated subdiffusion than those belonging to a flexible counterpart, while the whole SNR is more suppressed by its surroundings. Adding SNRs contributes to achieving sol and gel-like characteristics at high and low shearing frequencies, respectively. This study suggests the promising prospect of exploiting SNRs to concurrently strengthen and toughen target polymer nanocomposites.