Résumé
Polymer nanocomposites are materials made of nanoparticles incorporated in a polymer matrix, where the filler particles are usually added to enhance mechanical properties, e.g. of car tire materials [1]. Material performance depends to a great extent on the structure of the filler, i.e. its dispersion state in the polymer matrix, as well as on the physical characteristics (mass, crosslinking, grafting, etc.) and the resulting conformation of the polymer chains. In this talk, we will first discuss how structural information can be extracted from small-angle neutron scattering [2], in particular using deuteration and zero average contrast. We will then present some recent results on chain structure in model nanocomposites [3], with special emphasis on difficulties encountered with contrast-matching in nanocomposites. As an outlook, the audience is invited to participate in a dream of a world where large quantities of deuterated polymer of any kind are available. [1] G. P. Baeza, A. C. Genix, C. Degrandcourt, L. Petitjean, J. Gummel, M. Couty and J. Oberdisse, Macromolecules 2013, 46, 317-329.[2] A.-C. Genix and J. Oberdisse, Structure and dynamics of polymer nanocomposites studied by X-ray and neutron scattering techniques. Current Opinion in Colloid & Interface Science 2015, 20, 293-303.[3] A. Banc, A.-C. Genix, C. Dupas, M. Sztucki, R. Schweins, M.-S. Appavou, J. Oberdisse, Macromolecules 2015, 48, 6596−6605, ILL Highlight.