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.