Photochemical Alteration of the Stability of Polymer Nano-Agglomerates

摘要

In this work the mechanical stability of nanoscale polystyrene (PS) agglomerates was examined by experimental determination of the fragmentation energy by impact fragmentation. The potential of Aerosol-Photochemistry was investigated to alter agglomerate stability. Spherical particles of PS were generated by nebulization of a PS-CCl_4 solution. The surface modification of the particles was performed in a continuous vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) reactor before agglomeration of the primary particles was allowed. The radical chemical reactions induced by VUV radiation that occurred on the particle surface were dependent on the carrier gas composition and dose of irradiation. Thus, the interparticle forces could be enhanced by increasing the number of carboxyl groups (hydrogen bridge linkage, condensation reaction) on the particle surface and weakened by introducing chlorine groups (repulsive interaction).