Glass Transition of Polystyrene Confined to Nanoparticles: Effect of Surface Capping

Abstract

Studies in the past have illustrated a deviation between the glass transition temperature (Tg) of both silica capped and uncapped small (<125nm) polystyrene nanoparticles. Through testing samples in the differential scanning calorimeter, it has been seen with limited trials that varying the temperature of the silica capping process does not change the Tg result as compared to normal isochoric capping at room temperature. Also, silica capping of particles successfully requires a temperature greater than zero degrees Celsius to ensure the silica reaction occurs. We were successful in capping at room temperature and 50 degrees Celsius, but not at the extreme cold of zero degrees Celsius.