Prof. Dr. Axel Müller

Several hundred grams of Janus nanoparticles (d ≈ 40 nm) were synthesized as compatibilizers for blending of technologically relevant polymers, PPE and SAN, on industry-scale extruders. The Janus nanoparticles demonstrate superior compatibilization capabilities, stabilizing second phase droplets in morphologies ten times smaller compared to the corresponding triblock terpolymer, attributed to the combined contributions of amphiphilicity and the Pickering effect. Multi scale blend morphologies containing perfect “Raspberry structures” of a PPE phase fully covered with Janus particles in a SAN matrix were achieved using significantly low amounts of compatibilizer. The excess amount of JPs in the system forms a double layer at the interface of the blends and the effect is investigated through rheological characterization and efficient amount of compatibilizer for the system is predicted. Synthesization in large scales in addition to the low amounts needed and their stability after extensive shear and temperature profiles during an industrial extrusion process, promise JPs as the new generation of compatibilizers ready to be introduced to the commercial markets.

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Science 346, 436-437 (2014) – DOI: 10.1126/science.346.6208.436-f