Unique liquid-to-solid transition of carbon filler filled polystyrene melts

Nanoparticle reinforcement beyond the hydrodynamics regime has been predominantly assigned to filler networking effect. Herein a unique hydrodynamics-to-nonhydrodynamics transition has been disclosed by creating master curves of relative dynamic modulus as a function of scaled frequency. Such conclusion is drawn for polystyrene filled with four different carbon fillers, i.e., carbon black, fullerene, multi-walled carbon nanotubes and graphite nanoplatelets. Additional rheological contribution of the filler phase beyond the hydrodynamics regime disclosed is sensitive to the filler type. The study may provide guidance for fundamental researches on the simultaneous reinforcement and dissipation of composites varying with filler topology.