From clay to graphene for polymer nanocomposites—a survey

Abstract

The development of aerospace and automotive industries requests lightweight, high-paformance materials, and polymer nanocomposites are ideal candidates in this case, which is shown by the increasingly more publications in this research field over the past two decades. However, the performance of nanocompositenot only depend on the properties of their individual constituents, but on their morphology and surface characteristics of fillers as well. Selections of nanofille~ geometries, e.g. particulate, fibrous or layered have a tremendous influence on the properties of nanocomposites and their processing methods. In this paper, we review the chronological works performed in the field of polymer nanocomposites, in particular epoxy nanocomposites reinforced with layered fillers, such as clay and gitiphene. Surprisingly layered fillers are commercially available and more costeffective than nanoparticles and carbon nanofibres, and these make them to the most extensively studied fillers that can be geared toward future applications, particularly in large-scale polymer nanocomposite production.

Gas barrier properties of polymer/clay nanocomposites

“…5,40 The incorporation of clay platelets into polymers initially attracted attention because of improvements in mechanical properties of polymer. 33,37,[56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69] The most widely used clay ller for the enhancement of gas barrier property of PNCs is MMT as it has large cation exchange capacity. 33,37,[56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69] The most widely used clay ller for the enhancement of gas barrier property of PNCs is MMT as it has large cation exchange capacity.…”

“…According to global polymer market survey, more than 40% of polymers have been used as packaging materials and almost half of them are used for food packaging in the form of lms, sheets, and bottles, etc. 2,14,27,34,35,37,[41][42][43] The barrier properties of polymers can be signicantly enhanced by inclusion of impermeable lamellar llers, such as montmorillonite (MMT) and graphene, with sufficient aspect ratio to alter the diffusion path of gas-penetrant molecules. 16,39 However, despite their enormous versatility, a limiting property of polymeric materials in food packaging is their inherent permeability to gases and vapors, including oxygen, carbon dioxide, and organic vapors.…”

The thermo-mechanical response of PP nanocomposites at high graphene loading

“…Addition of even small volume fractions of nanoparticles, such as clays, have been shown to decrease impact strength, leading to embrittlement and making it very difficult to process. [24][25][26] Kalaitzidou et al compared the mechanical properties of PP with different layered fillers and showed that for loading up to 20% volume PP/GNP outperformed clays or nanotubes. 27 Since the heat exchange applications often require the unit to be in close proximity to electronic components or open flame, the materials must also be flame resistant.…”

Scientific basis of nanotechnology, implications for the food sector and future trends

“…The properties of the C-based ENMs mentioned above are extremely attractive for the realization of innovative polymer nanocomposites (PNCs), in which the nonpolymeric element has at least one dimension on the nanoscale (Tamburri et al, 2014;Zaman, Manshoor, Khalid, & Araby, 2014). In the near future, PNCs with C-based NMs are expected to find application in FCMs.…”