Polymer-clay nanocomposites Applications

FIGURE 9 Clay-polymer nanocomposite application. (From Ref. 174.)... 

The decrease in permeability and enhanced gas barrier property of clay-polymer nanocomposites makes them viable for packaging application. 

Thermoset polymers like polyimide, crosslinked sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) and polyacrylate can be used for membrane applications. The presence of nanoparticle nucleates the nanopore formation with the assistance of an agent. The nanopore is responsible for the solvent separation and transportation. Membranes such as solvent filters, filters for bacteria and virus, and membrane for gas separation can be developed using clay-polymer nanocomposites [118-119]. 

The field of clay-polymer nanocomposite technology is attracting a great amount of attention (169). Among clay minerals, the 2 1 natural clay mineral montmorillonite has been used for clay nanocomposite applications. The structure of nanocomposites, the dynamics of confined polymer clay nanocomposites using NMR and computer simulations, rheology of clay nanocomposites have been... 

The pol5mier nanocomposite field has been studied heavily in the past decade. However, polymier nanocomposite technology has been around for quite some time in the form of latex paints, carbon-black filled tires, and other pol5mier systems filled with nanoscale particles. However, the nanoscale interface nature of these materials was not truly understood and elucidated until recently [2 7]. Today, there are excellent works that cover the entire field of polymer nanocomposite research, including applications, with a wide range of nanofillers such as layered silicates (clays), carbon nanotubes/nanofibers, colloidal oxides, double-layered hydroxides, quantum dots, nanocrystalline metals, and so on. The majority of the research conducted to date has been with organically treated, layered silicates or organoclays. 

Besides clay-based nanocomposites, there has been huge discussion on the metallic and semiconductor-based hybrid materials. The ability of polymer materials to assemble into nanostructures describes the use of polymers providing exquisite order to nanoparticles. Finally, a discussion on potential applications of polymer—nanoparticle composites with a special focus on the use of dendrite polymers and nanoparticles for catalysis should follow (Polymer-Nanoparticle Composites Part 1 (Nanotechnology), 2010) (Figure 1.15). 

Mikitaev, A. K., Bedanokov, A. Y, Lednev, O. B., Mikitaev, M. A. Polymer/silicate nanocomposites based on organomodified clays/Polymers, Polymer Blends, Polymer Composites and Filled Polymers. Synthesis, Properties, Application. Nova Science Publishers, New York (2006). 

Conductive polymer nanocomposites may also be used in different electrical applications such as the electrodes of batteries or display devices. Linseed oil-based poly(urethane amide)/nanostuctured poly(l-naphthylamine) nanocomposites can be used as antistatic and anticorrosive protective coating materials. Castor oil modified polyurethane/ nanohydroxyapatite nanocomposites have the potential for use in biomedical implants and tissue engineering. Mesua ferrea and sunflower seed oil-based HBPU/silver nanocomposites have been found suitable for use as antibacterial catheters, although more thorough work remains to be done in this field. ° Sunflower oil modified HBPU/silver nanocomposites also have considerable potential as heterogeneous catalysts for the reduction of nitro-compounds to amino compounds. Castor oil-based polyurethane/ epoxy/clay nanocomposites can be used as lubricants to reduce friction and wear. HBPU of castor oil and MWCNT nanocomposites possesses good shape memory properties and therefore could be used in smart materials. ... 

In the last few decades, polymeric materials have found many applications and govern a major part of our day-to-day life. The polymeric materials are strong, lightweight, and easily processable with cost-effective techniques [1]. However, the properties of the pure polymeric materials limit their application in diversified fields. The introduction of filler materials into the polymer matrix generates properties superior to those of individual components. The combination forms a single system the polymer nanocomposites exhibit improved strength, stiffness and dimensional stability with adequate physical properties compared to pure ploymer. These nanocomposites can be of different types such as ceramic-based nanocomposites, fiber-reinforced nanocomposites, polymer-clay nanocomposites, etc. 

In the past decade, clay-based polymer nanocomposites have attracted considerable attention from the research field and in various applications. This is due to the capacity of clay to improve nanocomposite properties and the strong synergistic effects between the polymer and the silicate platelets on both a molecular and nanometric scale [2,3], Polymer-clay nanocomposites have several advantages (a) they are lighter in weight than the same polymers filled with other types of fillers (b) they have enhanced flame retardance and thermal stability and (c) they exhibit enhanced barrier properties. This chapter focuses on the polymer clay-based nanocomposites, their background, specific characteristics, synthesis, applications and advantages over the other composites. 

Polymer nanocomposites find their first application in car hoods, which are easily attacked by NO pollutants since they are exposed to the exterior environment. NO at standard atmosphere and pressure is 29.5% NO and 70.5% N O. Polyamide-6 is highly sensitive to such pollutants. The infusion of nano-clay platelets in the polyamide matrix in general decreases the diffusivity and permeability of the nanocomposites to atmospheric oxygen... 

Some of the most widely studied and technologically relevant polymer nanocomposites used in PLA technologies are those making use of nanoclays as reinforcing fillers. In order to achieve a full understanding of the nanocomposite behaviour and, therefore, of the system behaviour and performance, it is necessary to understand the structure and characteristics of nanoclays. With this objective, a small section of this chapter is devoted to analyzing the basic concepts of the nanoclays, with special interest in the most interesting/widely used clays for these applications. 

---