Flexibility of Passage Chains and Nano-organization of Polymers

The X-ray diffraction patterns of polymers containing an active filler show reflections indicating formation of two to three kinds of nanostructures in them. Nanostructures 2–10 nm in size with the smallest average interplanar distances (2.1–4.0 Å) and, accordingly, with a strength higher than that of nanostructures in the polymer matrix of a blend are formed immediately around filler particles. A change in the structure of polymer nano-organization is provided by a local decrease in the flexibility of its passage chains owing to adsorption on the filler surface and is related to an increase in free volume in its disordered part when the concentration of the filler is smaller than the critical value. It is shown that the molecular weight affects the structure of nano-organization of the filled polymer. The mosaic model is advanced for the structure of nano-organization of the polymers containing active fillers.