An attempt to quantitatively predict the interfacial adhesion of differently surface treated nanosilicas in a polyurethane coating matrix using tensile strength and DMTA analysis

Surface treatment of nanosilicas with silane coupling agents is a common method by which the interfacial interaction of these particles can be enhanced. This is because of interactions taking place between the silane and silica, as well as the interactions between the organic part of the silane with the polymeric matrix. Therefore, interfacial interaction of silane grafted silica plays a key role to ensure a better reinforcing effect. The present work is an attempt to quantitatively predict the interfacial bonding strength between differently amino silane treated nanosilicas and a polyurethane coating matrix. This was based on the data deduced from tensile strength and dynamic mechanical thermal (DMTA) experiments of differently loaded untreated and treated nanosilicas loaded films. Using a predefined linear model taking into account the yield stresses of the particle loaded polyurethane and that of the matrix itself, an interaction bonding strength parameter was obtained. It was shown that this parameter was directly proportional to the amino silane content on nanosilica. However, for higher loadings of silicas the model best fit the data deviated from linearity and obeyed a second order equation, in which the second power term attributing the extent of interfacial strength was systematically increased. These results were in good agreement with the storage modulus and glass transition temperature values revealed by DMTA analysis.