Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 19, 2026
08:39
Liquid-cell Transmission Electron Microscopy for Tracking Self-assembly of Nanoparticles
Published on: October 16, 2017
13.3K
A microstructure-composition map of a ternary liquid/liquid/particle system with partially-wetting particles
Junyi Yang1, David Roell, Martin Echavarria
1Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
Soft Matter
|November 7, 2017
Summary
Silica particles in polymer blends alter morphology, stabilizing emulsions and co-continuous structures. Particle wettability influences phase behavior, creating asymmetric effects in polyisobutylene and polyethylene oxide mixtures.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Science
- Colloid Science
Background:
- Ternary mixtures of immiscible polymers with nanoparticles exhibit complex morphologies.
- Particle wettability significantly influences interfacial phenomena and microstructure formation.
- Understanding these effects is crucial for designing advanced materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of silica particle composition on the morphology of polyisobutylene (PIB) and polyethylene oxide (PEO) blends.
- To analyze the role of particle wettability in stabilizing Pickering emulsions and co-continuous microstructures.
- To map the phase behavior and microstructural transitions in response to varying compositions and particle loadings.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of ternary mixtures with silane-treated silica particles (up to 30 vol%).
- Systematic variation of polymer phase ratios and particle loadings.
- Microscopy and rheology to characterize blend morphology and phase behavior.
- Construction of a state map classifying microstructures within a triangular composition diagram.
Main Results:
- Silica particles stabilized Pickering emulsions and interfacially-jammed co-continuous microstructures.
- Observed effects include meniscus-bridging, particle-induced coalescence, and phase inversion shifts.
- Asymmetric effects were noted, with more severe coalescence in PIB-continuous phases and promotion of PEO phase continuity.
- These asymmetries were linked to preferential wettability towards PEO.
Conclusions:
- Particle wettability plays a critical role in determining the morphology and stability of polymer blends.
- The study provides a state map for predicting microstructures based on composition and particle characteristics.
- Findings offer insights into controlling blend morphology for tailored material properties.
Related Concept Videos
01:09Colloidal precipitates
6.6K
The high insolubility of some precipitates can result in an unfavorable relative supersaturation. This can lead to colloidal particles with a large surface-to-mass ratio, where adsorption is promoted. For instance, in the precipitation of silver chloride, silver ions are adsorbed on the surface of the colloidal particles, forming a primary layer. This layer attracts ions of opposite charge (such as nitrate ions), forming a diffuse secondary layer of adsorbed ions. This electric double layer...
6.6K
01:22Surface Tension of Fluid
1.7K
Surface tension is a fundamental property of fluids, occurring at the boundary between a liquid and a gas or between two immiscible liquids. This phenomenon arises from the cohesive forces between molecules at the fluid's surface, creating an effect similar to a stretched elastic membrane. Inside each fluid, molecules are equally attracted in all directions by neighboring molecules, but surface molecules experience a net inward force, resulting in surface tension.
Surface tension varies...
Surface tension varies...
1.7K
01:16Precipitate Formation and Particle Size Control
6.9K
In precipitation gravimetry, the precipitating agent should react specifically or selectively with the analyte. While a specific reagent reacts with the analyte alone, a selective reagent can react with a limited number of chemical species.
The obtained precipitate should be either a pure substance of known composition or easily converted to one by a simple process, such as ignition or drying. In addition, the precipitate should be insoluble and easily filterable. In general, filterability...
The obtained precipitate should be either a pure substance of known composition or easily converted to one by a simple process, such as ignition or drying. In addition, the precipitate should be insoluble and easily filterable. In general, filterability...
6.9K
01:17Colloids and Suspensions
3.6K
Children at play often make suspensions such as mixtures of mud and water, flour and water, or a suspension of solid pigments in water known as tempera paint. These suspensions are heterogeneous mixtures composed of relatively large particles visible to the naked eye or seen with a magnifying glass. They are cloudy, and the suspended particles settle out after mixing. The suspended particles in a suspension settle out after some time of mixing. The separation of particles from a suspension is...
3.6K
03:22Colloids
21.5K
Children at play often make suspensions such as mixtures of mud and water, flour and water, or a suspension of solid pigments in water known as tempera paint. These suspensions are heterogeneous mixtures composed of relatively large particles that are visible to the naked eye or can be seen with a magnifying glass. They are cloudy, and the suspended particles settle out after mixing. On the other hand, a solution is a homogeneous mixture in which no settling occurs and in which the dissolved...
21.5K
01:34The Fluid Mosaic Model
181.0K
The fluid mosaic model was first proposed as a visual representation of research observations. The model comprises the composition and dynamics of membranes and serves as a foundation for future membrane-related studies. The model depicts the structure of the plasma membrane with a variety of components, which include phospholipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. These integral molecules are loosely bound, defining the cell’s border and providing fluidity for optimal function.
181.0K