Characterization of Nanocomposites by Optical Analysis

When single layers of clay minerals are dispersed in a polymer matrix to form a nanocomposite, a material optically clear in the visible region can be obtained, but with loss in the UV region (A 250 nm) mostly due to scattering by layers of the clay mineral. The unique behavior of the nanoparticles when interacting with light leads to spedal applications such as UV and IR absorbers. 

Besides nanodays, zinc oxide (ZnO) is also a notable inorganic material that can offer optical transparency and shielding to ultraviolet light when used in polymer matrix to prepare nanocomposites 2). 

Metal nanopartides can also be cited. The characteristic properties of metal nanopartides and nanocomposites have been the subject of study because of their unique optical properties. Combining metal and polymer together enhances the optical properties of nanometals. Srivastava et al. 3] studied the optical properties of gold nanocomposites by changing the size and fraction of gold nanopartides. The optical properties of nanocomposite films of various thicknesses with different sizes and volume fraction of gold nanopartides have been studied using spectroscopic 

Pdymer Composite Volume 2, First Edition. Edited by Sabu Thomas, KumviDa Joseph, Sant Kumar Maihotra, Kokihi Goda, and M yarappaM Sadasivan Sreekala. 

Dammer et al. [4] also worked with metal nanoparticles and showed the importance of preparation procedure on the optical properties of polymer nanocomposites with gold nanoparticles. Similar to other properties, optical properties depend on the dispersion of nanoparticles caused by the processing conditions. 

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