116
5 3D Interphase of PVA Bionanocomposite Films
simulations, have made significant progress in evaluating polymer–particle interactions. However, with the limited computational environment required, these studies
have been mostly restricted to the context of single and two-particle systems. The
peak force quantitative nanomechanical mapping (PFQNM) becomes a relatively
new and powerful technique, which was quantitatively utilised to acquired interphase
dimensions and properties based on the variation in nanomechanical properties of
materials such as stiffness and adhesion of nanocomposites along with corresponding
acquired dimensions [3].
5.2 Interphase Characterisation of PVA-Based
Bionanocomposites
5.2.1 Modelling Approach
5.2.1.1 Interphase Modulus
The elastic properties of interphases such as interphase modulus between PVA
matrices and dispersed anisotropic NBCs in various shapes and sizes were determined
according to a data set of elastic moduli collected based on PVA/NBC interphases
surrounding 75 different NBCs at 25 line scan regions (LSRs). The same procedure
was employed to assess interphase moduli of PVA/HNT bionanocomposites and
PVA/Cloisite 30B clay bionanocomposites, respectively.
5.2.1.2 Interphase Dimensions
Interphase dimensions in terms of interphase width W i Interphase , interphase length
L j Interphase and interphase height H k Interphase were measured by scanning individual
PVA/nanoparticle phases using PFQNM with typical features of distinct interphases
between nanoparticles and polymer matrices based on the variation of their nanomechanical properties. For instance, W i Interphase was measured by scanning along the ith
transverse plane (i = 1, 2, 3, …) for PVA/nanoparticle phases. The same procedure
reapplied to determine L jInterphase and H k Interphase along the jth longitudinal plane (j
= 1, 2, 3, …) and kth height plane (k = 1,2, 3, …), respectively, (refer to Appendix
for more details).
On the other hand, it was assumed that uniform nanoparticles dispersion took
place with two typical categories, namely fully embedded and partially embedded
NBCs, HNTs and Cloisite 30B clays within PVA matrices in resulting bionanocomposites, as illustrated in Fig. 5.1. It is clearly demonstrated that the interphase is
surrounded between inner interface area and outer interface area bound by nanofillers
and PVA matrices, respectively. By rearranging analytical equations according to
Behmer and Hawkins [4] used for calculating the surface areas of anistropic shapes,
5 3D Interphase of PVA Bionanocomposite Films
simulations, have made significant progress in evaluating polymer–particle interactions. However, with the limited computational environment required, these studies
have been mostly restricted to the context of single and two-particle systems. The
peak force quantitative nanomechanical mapping (PFQNM) becomes a relatively
new and powerful technique, which was quantitatively utilised to acquired interphase
dimensions and properties based on the variation in nanomechanical properties of
materials such as stiffness and adhesion of nanocomposites along with corresponding
acquired dimensions [3].
5.2 Interphase Characterisation of PVA-Based
Bionanocomposites
5.2.1 Modelling Approach
5.2.1.1 Interphase Modulus
The elastic properties of interphases such as interphase modulus between PVA
matrices and dispersed anisotropic NBCs in various shapes and sizes were determined
according to a data set of elastic moduli collected based on PVA/NBC interphases
surrounding 75 different NBCs at 25 line scan regions (LSRs). The same procedure
was employed to assess interphase moduli of PVA/HNT bionanocomposites and
PVA/Cloisite 30B clay bionanocomposites, respectively.
5.2.1.2 Interphase Dimensions
Interphase dimensions in terms of interphase width W i Interphase , interphase length
L j Interphase and interphase height H k Interphase were measured by scanning individual
PVA/nanoparticle phases using PFQNM with typical features of distinct interphases
between nanoparticles and polymer matrices based on the variation of their nanomechanical properties. For instance, W i Interphase was measured by scanning along the ith
transverse plane (i = 1, 2, 3, …) for PVA/nanoparticle phases. The same procedure
reapplied to determine L jInterphase and H k Interphase along the jth longitudinal plane (j
= 1, 2, 3, …) and kth height plane (k = 1,2, 3, …), respectively, (refer to Appendix
for more details).
On the other hand, it was assumed that uniform nanoparticles dispersion took
place with two typical categories, namely fully embedded and partially embedded
NBCs, HNTs and Cloisite 30B clays within PVA matrices in resulting bionanocomposites, as illustrated in Fig. 5.1. It is clearly demonstrated that the interphase is
surrounded between inner interface area and outer interface area bound by nanofillers
and PVA matrices, respectively. By rearranging analytical equations according to
Behmer and Hawkins [4] used for calculating the surface areas of anistropic shapes,