Figure 2

Dependence of G′ (a,c) and tanδ (b,d) on nanoparticle concentration for four nanoparticle species—CS (filled circle), FS-OH (open triangle), FS-C8 (open square) and FS-MA (open circle)—at two temperatures (in °C): 160 (a,b) and 200 (c,d). The solid and dashed lines serve as guides for the eye for the FS-MA and CS data, respectively; whereas the shaded region shows the range in G′ over which nanoparticle concentration generally has little effect on nanocomposite mechanical properties. The vertical dotted line identifies the concentration vicinity beyond which the nanocomposites behave solid-like, and the horizontal dotted line (c,d only) signifies where tanδ = 1