Fumed silica concentration effect on structure and dielectric properties of a styrene-cross-linked unsaturated polyester resin

Concentration effects of a high-reactive-surface nanosized SiO2 filler on structure and dielectrical properties of a styrene-cross-linked polyester resin have been experimentally studied. Thermal desorption mass-spectroscopy, IR-spectroscopy, dielectric spectroscopy, and positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy were used to determine an atomic content of thermal destruction products, IR-reflection spectra, complex dielectric permittivity, and a nature of positron traps as function of filler content in the polymer matrix. Interaction between active surface centers of SiO2-nanoparticles and atoms of polyester chains and styrene molecules gives the non-monotonous influence on the structure of polyester chains, macromolecule polarity, dielectric parameters and the number of positronium nanotraps.