Estimation of the Thickness of the Interface in Polyoctenamer-Single Walled Carbon Nanotube Composites by Thermogravimetric Analysis

In polymer-based nanocomposites, macromolecular chains surround the nanoparticles interacting with them and thus defining a thin layer of material known as interface. The interface exhibits modified physical properties compared to the polymeric matrix; shifts of the glass, melting, and crystallization temperatures. A simple method for the estimation of the thickness of the interface in polymer based nanocomposites, by using thermogravimetric analysis is presented. The method is exemplified through experimental data on polyoctenamer-single walled carbon nanotube nanocomposites obtained by melt mixing. The thermal stability of the as obtained nanocomposites has been investigated by thermogravimetric analysis, using a Q50 TGA instrument from TA Instruments. The measurements have been performed in air and in nitrogen atmosphere at various heating rates (5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 $^{o}$C/min). Additional measurements by Raman, and Wide Angle X Ray are supporting thermal analysis data.