Mechanical properties of a poly(methyl acrylate) nanocomposite containing regularly-arranged silica particles

In an earlier investigation, poly(methyl acrylate) nanocomposites containing silica particles were found to have novel optical properties when the particles were regularly spaced rather than randomly located. The availability of these materials was used to determine whether there was any difference in the particles' reinforcing ability between ordered and random arrangements, The two types of composites were compared using near-equilibrium mechanical property measurements in uniaxial or equi-biaxial deformation, and dynamic mechanical properties measurements. It was found that having the filler particles regularly arranged had little effect on these properties, and that there was no anisotropy in their mechanical behavior. Related experiments could possibly be used to clarify the long-standing question of the importance of particle aggregation in elastomer reinforcement.