Structure-property relationships in novel hybrid nano structured organic/organic and organic/inorganic materials

The relationships between composition, structure/morphology and dynamic properties of novel, hybrid, nano structured organic/organic and organic/inorganic materials were investigated, over the last three years, by a variety of experimental techniques, including differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), laser-interferometric creep rate spectroscopy (CRS), broadband dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS), thermally stimulate depolarization currents (TSDC) techniques, and thermogravimetry (TGA). The systems investigated include poly(imide)/silica (PI/SiO2) nano composites, prepared by sol-gel techniques, poly(imide-ethylene adipate) (PI/PEA) hybrid networks and PIr/PIf blends (molecular composites) of rod-like and flexible PI chains. In this paper, special attention has been paid to the presentation and analysis of the DRS and TSDC data, in particular for the local secondary γ relaxation. The results are discussed in terms of constrains induced by chain anchoring o rigid structural components. (author)