Polymer nanocomposite

About: Polymer nanocomposite is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 8977 publications have been published within this topic receiving 297599 citations.

Aggregation of colloidal nanoparticles in polymer matrices

Abstract: Colloidal nanoparticles may possess many functional properties, whose nature may be electronic, chemical, biological, mechanical, etc. It is often advantageous to incorporate them into a matrix material, e.g., a polymer solution or melt, or an elastomer, in order to obtain a ‘nanomaterial’ with additional properties brought in by the filler particles. One of the basic but nonetheless crucial properties is the mechanical strength of such polymer nanocomposites, whose rheological (or mechanical) properties are usually better than those of the pure matrix. The precise origin of this mechanical reinforcement effect, however, remains unclear. In this context, some recent studies of the structure and mechanical properties of a special type of nanocomposites are reviewed here. In silica–latex systems, a latex film with silica inclusions is formed from a colloidal solution of both components. During drying of the solution, the formation of silica domains can be controlled via the physico-chemical properties of the solution. Well-defined silica aggregates embedded in a polymer matrix can be generated, and the mechanical properties of the resulting nanocomposite have been shown to be directly correlated to the average structure. We believe that the fine-tuning of the structure of the filler phase opens new perspectives for systematic studies of the reinforcement effect, e.g., by modifying filler–polymer interfacial properties at fixed structure, or by generating original structures.

Preparation of highly conductive polymer nanocomposites by low temperature sintering of silver nanoparticles

Abstract: Highly conductive polymer nanocomposites with very low resistivity (4.8 × 10−5 Ω cm) were prepared by thermal sintering of silver nanoparticles with silver flakes dispersed in a polymer matrix at 180 °C. By comparative studies of thermal behavior of Ag nanoparticles, the critical processing temperature required to obtain very low resistivity of polymer nanocomposites has been identified for Ag nanoparticles with different surface properties. The results indicate that the decomposition temperature of surface residues on Ag nanoparticles plays a key role in the sintering of Ag nanoparticles and thus the electrical resistivity of the polymer nanocomposites. Electrical measurements of the polymer nanocomposites showed that morphological changes induced by sintering of Ag nanoparticle with Ag flakes considerably contribute to the reduction of the contact resistance between conductive fillers, increasing the nanocomposite conductivity.

Plasmonic polymer nanocomposites

Abstract: The optical properties of metal nanoparticles, particularly their localized surface plasmon effects, are well established. These plasmonic nanoparticles can respond to their surroundings or even influence the optical processes (for example, absorption, fluorescence and Raman scattering) of molecules located at their surface. As a result, plasmonic nanoparticles have been developed for multiple purposes, ranging from the detection of chemicals and biological molecules to light-harvesting enhancement in solar cells. By dispersing the nanoparticles in polymers and creating a hybrid material, the robustness, responsiveness and flexibility of the system are enhanced while preserving the intrinsic properties of the nanoparticles. In this Review, we discuss the fabrication and applications of plasmonic polymer nanocomposites, focusing on applications in optical data storage, sensing and imaging and photothermal gels for in vivo therapy. Within the nanocomposites, the nanoporosity of the matrix, the overall mechanical stability and the dispersion of the nanoparticles are important parameters for achieving the best performance. In the future, translation of these materials into commercial products rests on the ability to scale up the production of plasmonic polymer nanocomposites with tailored optical features.

Manufacturing techniques for polymer matrix composites (PMCs)

Abstract: Introduction to composites and manufacturing processes. Part 1 Manufacturing of polymer matrix composites (PMC): short fiber and nanoparticle based processing: Injection molding in polymer matrix composites Processing of polymer nanocomposites Compression molding in polymer matrix composites. Part 2 Manufacturing of polymer matrix composites (PMC): thermoplastic based processing: Sheet forming in polymer matrix composites Fabric thermostamping in polymer matrix composites Filament winding process in thermoplastics Continuous fiber reinforced profiles in polymer matrix composites. Part 3 Manufacturing of polymer matrix composites (PMC): Thermoset based processing: Resin transfer molding (RTM) in polymer matrix composites Vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) in polymer matrix composites Compression resin transfer molding (CRTM) in polymer matrix composites The pultrusion process in polymer matrix composites Autoclave processing for composites Out-of-autoclave curing process in polymer matrix composites.