Non-linear Deformation of Polymer Grafted Nanoparticles

Linear viscoelastic properties of polymer grafted nanoparticles indicate that the systems behave like elastic solids with elastic moduli that scale with concentration of the nanoparticles and with the molecular weight of the polymer chains grafted to the particles. We studied the non-linear viscoelastic properties of such polymer grafted nanoparticle melts through a systematic examination of steady shear behavior and the recovery after cessation of flow. The local re-arrangement of particles and the formation of slip-planes and the regenearation of local order upon cessation of flow dominate the flow and recovery properties of these nanocomposites.