Polymer nanocomposites: Current understanding and issues

Abstract

Polymer nanocomposites, or more appropriately polymer nanostructured materials, represent a radical alternative to the conventional filled polymers and polymer blends, in which discrete constituents on the order of a few nanometres are incorporated in the polymer matrix. In the last decade, the utility of inorganic nanoparticles as additives to enhance polymer performance has been established and now provides numerous commercial opportunities, ranging from advanced aerospace systems to commodity plastics. The incorporation of low volume additions (1-5 wt-%) of highly anisotropic nanoparticles, such as layered silicates or carbon nanotubes, have resulted in property enhancements with respect to the neat polymer that are comparable with that achieved by conventional loadings (15-40 wt-%) of traditional fillers. The lower loadings facilitate processing and reduce component weight. In addition, unique value added properties not normally possible with traditional fillers were also observed, such as high stiffness, reduced permeability, optical clarity and electrical conductivity have been achieved. However, the development of chemical and processing procedures to disrupt the low-dimensional crystallites (tactoids and ropes) to achieve uniform distribution of the nanoelement (layered silicate and single wall carbon nanotube respectively) continues to be a challenge. Even less developed are approaches to provide spatial and orientational control of the hierarchical morphology. There exists an immense potential for polymer nanocomposites, in particular, polypropyelene-clay nanocomposites paving the way for future technologies for the materials community at large.

Clay nanocomposites based on poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene): Structure and properties

“…The nanoscopic origin of the macroscopic properties in polymer clay nanocomposites has been the subject of intense investigations which have been summarized in a number of reviews [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9].…”

Hierarchical structures and phase nucleation and growth during pressure-induced crystallization of polypropylene containing dispersion of nanoclay: The impact on physical and mechanical properties

“…The results of tactoids thickness were summarized in the form of histograms, followed by mean and standard deviation to obtain a quantitative measurement of the degree of dispersion. The average tactoid thickness (l) was calculated using equation [1]:…”

“…Clay is currently being actively considered as a viable silicate reinforcement nanoparticle to enhance physical and mechanical properties [1][2][3][4] such as strength, modulus, flame-retardant and heat distortion temperature properties [1,[5][6][7]. In recent years there has been a widespread use of nanoclay as a reinforcement mineral in a number of polymers such as polypropylene and polyethylene.…”

Thermal and Viscoelastic Features of New Nanocomposites Based on a Hot‐Melt Adhesive Polyurethane and Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes

“…It is the reduction of the filler phase size down to the nanoscale dimension that conceptually leads to nanocomposites with outstanding physical properties. [1][2][3] The use of carbon nanotubes (CNT), and more in particular multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), has shown to give rise to polymer nanocomposites of excellent mechanical, thermal and electrical properties. [4][5][6][7] In view of the considerable number of papers and the reduced number of patents on polymer/CNT nanocomposites, highlighted by Moniruzzaman and Winey, [4] research to obtain reliable industrial methods to disperse CNTs in polymer matrixes is decisive.…”