Abstract
The glass transition temperature, dynamic shear moduli, and bulk viscosities of PVC, filled with nickel particles, were investigated. The glass temperature of the composite increased with increasing filler concentration. The data were interpreted by assuming that the interaction between filler particles and the polymer matrix reduces molecular mobility and flexibility of the polymer chains in the vicinity of the interfaces. The relative modulus for the PVC/Ni composite system followed the Kerner equation. The relative viscosities were strongly temperature dependent and did not agree with the conventional viscosity predictions for suspensions. It is suggested that the filler has a twofold effect on the viscosity of the composite materials; one is due to its mechanical presence and the other is due to modification of part of the polymer matrix caused by interaction. This phenomenon is approximately bounded by Kerner's predictions for suspensions.