X-ray Study of Structural Formation and Thermomechanical Properties of Silver-Containing Polymer Nanocomposites

The structural organization and thermomechanical properties of nanocomposites prepared from interpolyelectrolyte-metal complex (IMC) involving anionic polyelectrolyte, pectin and AgNO3, and cationic polyelectrolyte, poly(4-vinylpyridine), have been investigated using the methods of wide- and small-angle X-ray scattering and thermomechanical analysis. It is established that chemical reduction of Ag+ ions in the IMC by sodium borohydride results in formation of the nanocomposite based on the "pectin-poly(4-vinylpyridine)" interpolyelectrolyte complex (IPEC) and Ag0 nanoparticles as well. At the same time, the level of nanocomposites' structural heterogeneity is substantially enhancing, while effective size of the heterogeneity regions decreases. The nanocomposites IPEC-Ag0 prepared are shown much bigger T g value and enhanced ability for deformation than those for IMC.