This model can predict the effect of particle size on the
storage modulus of the highly filled systems. Decrease
in the particle size tends to increase the available surface area and the number of particles. With increase in
the available surface area, the volume fraction of the
adsorbed polymer increases. Furthermore, increase in the number of particles leads to a stronger particle net-
work. Consequently, the storage modulus of the highly
filled systems increases with decrease in the particles
size. In Figure 6, the effect of particle size reduction is
predicted and compared with the experimental data.
The constants that are used to predict the effect of
particle size reduction is given in Table 7 and other
parameters are taken from Table 6.
The data that are presented in Table 7 show that the
strength of the filler network increases with a reduction
in the particle size. The parameters and k are esti-
mated from the data of the storage modulus at different
particle concentrations in the linear region.