Preparation, structure and properties of nano-silica/poly(glycerolsebacatecitrate) bioelastomer composites by solvent assistant in-situ dispersion technique

Nano-SiO₂/poly (glycerol-sebacate-citrate)(PGSC) bioelastomer composites were prepared by solvent assistant in-situ dispersion technique, and their structure and properties were characterized by FTIR, SEM, WXRD, DSC and tensile tests. Results demonstrate that nano-SiO₂ is imbedded in the PGSC matrixes, and chemical bonding is formed between them. Nano-SiO₂ presents finer and more homogeneous dispersion with the increasing of its mass fractions. The ordered structures of the matrixes are weakened after nano-SiO₂ is added, but the ordered structures of the composites are intensified with the formation of inorganic filler networks. The glass transition temperature (T_g) of the matrix increases when the nano-SiO₂ mass fraction is lower, while the T_g decreases when its mass fraction is higher. The composites possess excellent resilience, and their tensile strength and modulus rise with the increasing of nano-SiO₂ mass fractions, separately rising by 602.20% and 258.21% at its mass fraction of 16.67% than those of the pure matrixes.