RHEOLOGICAL, THERMAL AND ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF POLY(ETHYLENE OXIDE) / SILICON DIOXIDE MICROCOMPOSITES

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Description/Abstract

Polyethylene oxide (PEO) is a water-soluble polymer that is technologically used as an electrolyte solvent in lithium polymer cells, but is more widely used as a model system to study fundamental processes. This paper details an investigation into the physical, thermal and electrical properties of polyethylene oxide / silicon dioxide composites. Three different molecular weight host PEOs were used - 100,000 g mol-1, 400,000 g mol-1 and 1,000,000 g mol-1 and micro silicon dioxide was chosen as the filler. This was dispersed into the PEO as a solution in distilled water by using controlled shear conditions, and the properties of the resulting materials were then studied. Dispersion was analysed during the system rheology phase by means of shear rate – shear stress data collection. The crystallisation and melting behaviour were examined using differenial scanning calorimetry. The AC ramp electrical breakdown strength and dielectric response were also analysed. This paper investigates the effect of silicon dioxide loading and shear history on structural evolution, dielectric response and breakdown behaviour in PEO.