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Abstract
Polystyrene-block-polyisoprene-block-polystyrene (SIS) triblock copolymer was modified into an epoxidised version (ESIS) using performic acid. The ESIS was further acrylated to prepare the acrylated version (ASIS). The nanocomposites of each sample (SIS, ESIS and ASIS) were prepared using boehmite nanofiller via solution casting, which were characterised by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The TEM investigations revealed that the epoxidation of the diene block enhanced the dispersion of the nanofiller in polymer matrix, which may be attributed to the improved compatibility between alkybenzene sulphonic acid coated inorganic filler and polar modified middle block of the copolymer. The segregation of the nanoparticles towards the interface of different microscopically segregated polymer domains was observed in the acrylated block copolymer based nanocomposite implying the incomplete acrylation of the block copolymer, which might segregate from the bulk unmodified or partially modified polymer.
R. A. acknowledges the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology for providing a research promotion grant and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for providing support during his research visits to Germany on different occasions. We thank Nordmann-Rasmann GmbH, Hamburg, and Sasol Chemical Company, Hamburg, for the supply of polymer and boehmite nanoparticles. Mrs S. Goerlitz (Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg) is thanked for her support in electron microscopic investigations.