An Investigative Study on the Progress of Nanoclay-Reinforced Polymers: Preparation, Properties, and Applications: A Review

Abstract

Nanoclay-reinforced polymers have attracted considerable universal attention in academic and industrial research due to their outstanding properties and their ever-expanding utilization in diversified applications. In that regard, in the present review, the structure of layered silicate clay, as well as procedures for clay material modification, are outlined. We also discuss the general characterization techniques, synthesis methods, and various properties of polymer–clay nanocomposites (PCNs), and some examples likewise are depicted from the scientific literature. The study’s primary goal is to provide an up-to-date survey of polymer–clay nanocomposites and their specific applications in industries such as automotive, flame-retardant, and biomedical applications, coating, and packaging.

Comparison of Properties of Colorless and Transparent Polyimide Nanocomposites Containing Chemically Modified Nanofillers: Functionalized-Graphene and Organoclay

“…CPI hybrid films comprising C16-MMT possess higher T g values than films containing C16-GS. This is because the aspect ratio of MMT (~218) is smaller than that of GS (>250), which facilitates the dispersion of MMT in the matrix polymer [18,23]. This result confirms the dispersion state, as indicated by the electron microscopy results (Figures 7-9).…”

“…However, because MMT is hydrophilic and therefore incompatible with lipophilic polymers, it is necessary to chemically combine MMT with a suitable organic agent. These organoclays are dispersed in the polymer as nanoparticles to effectively enhance the properties of the composite material [22][23][24].…”

Advances in Biologically Applicable Graphene-Based 2D Nanomaterials

“…GR is a single-carbon crystalline-carbon film, with various unexpected/unique properties (high surface area [ 6 , 7 ], excellent electrical conductivity [ 8 ], strong mechanical strength [ 9 , 10 ], and thermal conductivity [ 11 ]), plus, especially, the fact that it can be easily functionalized and modified [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]. Further research has led to the discovery of a large number of other 2D-NMs [ 18 ], such as graphitic-carbon nitride [ 19 , 20 , 21 ], silicate clays [ 22 , 23 ], layered double hydroxides [ 24 , 25 , 26 ], transition-metal dichalcogenides [ 27 , 28 ], etc. These 2D-NMs have a wide range of applications, from chemical productions [ 29 , 30 ], optoelectronics [ 31 ], sensors [ 32 , 33 ], and energy [ 34 , 35 ], to biomedicine [ 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ], where they have become extensively studied as biologically active substance delivery systems, biosensors, or multimodal imaging materials, see Figure 1 .…”

Morphological investigation of maleic anhydride-grafted nitrile/nanoclay nanocomposites

“…Their synergistic properties were of concern for substantial material characteristics such as enhancing barrier properties, increasing mechanical moduli [3], and improving flame retardancy [4]. Of all the nano-fillers tested for their reinforcing ability, clay nanoparticles have gained momentum due to their availability, low cost, intrinsic anisotropy, and their impressive capacity to tune polymer properties at considerably low loading concentrations [5]. Nano-clays (nClays) belong to the class of layered mineral materials and were termed as stacks of silicate sheets (nano-platelets) approximately 1 nm in thickness and up to several microns of lateral dimensions.…”