Influence of inorganic nanoparticles on the glass transitions of polyurea elastomers

The properties of polymers can be significantly changed by incorporating nanoparticles, which yields a great potential for applications. In the present study, we use nanocomposites of new polyurea elastomers filled with 0.1, 0.5, and 1 wt.% MoS2 nanotubes. Using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) measurements we show, that the glass transition temperatures Tg of the nanocomposites are increased by small amounts of inorganic nanotubes. In line with results from computer simulations of polymer melts with nanoscopic particles, we explain the observed shift of Tg to be due to a gradual slowing down of polymer chain dynamics in the proximity of nanotubes.