Selective localization of titanium dioxide nanoparticles at the interface and its effect on the impact toughness of poly(L-lactide)/poly(ether)urethane blends

• DOI: 10.3144/expresspolymlett.2013.24
• Publication Date: 2013-01-04T16:55:46Z
• Authors: H. Xiu; H. W. Bai; C. M. Huang; C. L. Xu; X. Y. Li; Q. Fu
• Keywords: Lactide; Titanium Dioxide

Inorganic nanofillers are often added into polymer/elastomer blends as a third component to modify their performance.This work aims clarify the role of interface-localized spherical nanoparticles in determining impact toughness polymer blends.The selective distribution titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) poly(L-lactide)/poly(ether) urethane (PLLA/PU) was investigated by using scanning electron microscope.It is interesting find that, regardless method TiO introduction, nano-TiO particles always selectively localized at phase interface between PLLA and PU, leading significant improvement notched Izod toughness.The moderately weakened interfacial adhesion induced interfacially-localized believed be main reason for largely enhanced toughness.