This study aims to provide an updated survey of the main thermoplastic polymers in order to obtain recyclable materials for various industrial and indoor applications. The synthesis approach significantly impacts the properties of such materials and these properties in turn have a significant impact on their applications. Due to the ideal properties of the thermoplastic polymers such as corrosion resistance, low density or user-friendly design, the production of plastics has increased markedly over the last 60 years, becoming more used than aluminum or other metals. Also, recycling is one of the most important actions currently available to reduce these impacts and represents one of the most dynamic areas in the plastics industry today.

Methods of Recycling, Properties and Applications of Recycled Thermoplastic Polymers

This paper reviews current research, techniques for characterization and trends on the field of nanocomposites. Nanocomposites are new materials made with fillers which have nanosize. These materials have a big potential for applications in the automotive and aerospace industry as well as in construction, electrical applications and food packing. There is a tremendous interest for using bionanoparticles like cellulose microfibrils or whiskers to be applied in the new era of biocomposites.

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Polymer nanocomposites: synthetic and natural fillers a review

Nanoclay-tethered shape memory polyurethane nanocomposites

This paper surveys the recent achievements with thermoset rubber/layered silicate nanocomposites considering their production methods, cure characteristics, structure and basic properties (mechanical, thermal and barrier). It was shown that the properties of the “nanoreinforced” rubbers strongly depend on the dispersion state of the silicate. The latter can be influenced by various methods related to the production route (latex, solution or melt compounding), silicate type (natural and artificial origin mostly affecting the aspect ratio), surface modification of the silicate (chemical buildup of the surfactant used for “organophilization”), recipe (curatives, activators, compatibilizers, etc.) and compounding parameters (temperature, time, shear rate, etc.). A peculiar skeleton-type reinforcing structure can be produced by latex compounding. Solution and melt intercalation techniques usually result in nanocomposites containing silicate layers in both intercalated and exfoliated forms. To detect the related structure the combined use of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques is inevitable. Confinement and deintercalation of the organophilic layered silicates occurring during compounding can be circumvented by the proper selection of the surfactants. Based on the present praxis some tendencies for future R&D activities with rubber nanocomposites were deduced and a strong impetus was forecasted to them owing to the fast development with thermoplastic/layered silicate systems. Polym. Eng. Sci. 44:1083–1093, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.

Thermoset rubber/layered silicate nanocomposites. Status and future trends

Preparation, mechanical and rheological properties of a thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO)/organoclay nanocomposite with reference to the effect of maleic anhydride modified polypropylene as a compatibilizer

The preparation, characterization and properties of novel millable polyurethane/organoclay nanocomposites are reported. Clay treated with methyl tallow bis(2-hydroxyethyl) quaternary ammonium chloride was used as an organoclay for nanocomposite preparation. X-ray diffraction indicated the intercalation of polymer chains inside the interlayer spacings of the clay. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed a significant increase in storage modulus, and tensile strength increases with increased organoclay loading.

http://mslab.polymer.pusan.ac.kr/english/international/2003/53.pdf

New Millable Polyurethane/Organoclay Nanocomposite: Preparation, Characterization and Properties

Preparation and properties of a new thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV)/organoclay nanocomposite using maleic anhydride functionalized polypropylene as a compatibilizer

The preparation, characterization, and properties of the new thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV)/organoclay nanocomposites are reported in this article. The nano- composites were prepared by the melt intercalation method. The organoclay was first treated with glycidyl methacrylate, which acts as a swelling agent for organoclays, as well as a grafting agent for TPV (in the presence of dicumyl peroxide) during the melt mixing. The nanocomposite was intercalated, as evidenced by X-ray diffraction. The tensile modulus of the 5% TPV/organoclay nanocomposite was higher than that of the 20% talc-filled microcomposite. The storage modulus of the nanocomposite was higher than that of the pristine TPV. The most important observation is obtained from dynamic mechanical analysis, which reveals that the glass-transition temperature of the polypropylene phase of the nanocomposite increases (as compared to virgin TPV), whereas the ethylene-propylene- diene monomer phase remains almost the same.

http://mslab.polymer.pusan.ac.kr/english/intl_paper/83.pdf

A New Thermoplastic Vulcanizate (TPV)/Organoclay Nanocomposite: Preparation, Characterization, and Properties

A low-density polyethylene (LDPE)/millable polyurethane (PU)/organoclay ternary nanocomposite was successfully prepared. The nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The nanocomposites, as evidenced by XRD, are intercalated. The heat shrinkable behavior of the nanocomposites, as well as their pristine counterparts, was studied. It was observed that heat shrinkability decreases with increased filler content. The tensile strength and the tensile modulus of the nanocomposites are higher than their pristine counterparts.

Joy K. Mishra

Papers

Preparation, mechanical and rheological properties of a thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO)/organoclay nanocomposite with reference to the effect of maleic anhydride modified polypropylene as a compatibilizer

New Millable Polyurethane/Organoclay Nanocomposite: Preparation, Characterization and Properties

Preparation and properties of a new thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV)/organoclay nanocomposite using maleic anhydride functionalized polypropylene as a compatibilizer

A New Thermoplastic Vulcanizate (TPV)/Organoclay Nanocomposite: Preparation, Characterization, and Properties

Heat Shrinkable Behavior and Mechanical Response of a Low-Density Polyethylene/Millable Polyurethane/Organoclay Ternary Nanocomposite