Figure 7.
Schematic representation of the steps in the preparation of a hybrid film. A water dispersion of the particles is cast onto a substrate and dried. When the particles come into contact, the polymer shell (in red) deforms (at a temperature above the minimum film formation temperature, Tff) to occupy the voids between particles, yielding a close-packed arrangement of the particles. If the film is annealed above the glass transition temperature of the polymer shell, Tg, the polymer shell diffuses across the particle-particle boundary to form a mechanically strong film.