Preparation and characterization of poly(chlorotrifluoroethylene- co-ethylvinyl ether)/poly(styrene acrylate) core-shells and SiO2 nanocomposite films via a solution mixing method.

Nanocomposite particles of poly(chlorotrifluoroethylene- co-ethylvinyl ether) [poly(CTFE- co-EVE)]/poly(styrene acrylate) (PSA)/SiO₂ were prepared with poly(CTFE- co-EVE)/PSA [CS(FS); core-shell (CS) fluoro surfactant (FS)] and hydrophilic SiO₂ nanoparticles by a solution mixing method. This method yielded a homogeneous dispersion of hydrophilic SiO₂ nanoparticles in the CS(FS) matrix. The nanocomposite particle composition was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. A slight improvement in the thermal stability was observed and the glass-transition temperature of the nanocomposite particles increased compared with the CS(FS) matrix. A remarkable enhancement was observed in the mechanical properties with an increase in the tensile strength from 1.1 to 6.2 MPa and with an increase in the elongation at break from 209.6 to 350.1% for the films with 15 wt % SiO₂. The presence of a wettable PSA shell on the fluorocore made interaction possible with SiO₂; this made it more hygroscopic with a decent water uptake capacity and an enhanced water contact angle. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2012 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]