Polymer-clay composites composite nanofibers

Recent developments in polymer nanotechnology include the exfoliated clay nanocomposites, CNTs, carbon nanofibers, exfoliated graphite, nanocrystalline metals, and a host of other filler modified composite materials. Polymer matrix-based nanocomposites with exfoliated clay are discussed in this section. Performance... 

Particulate polymer composites with fibers are a very active area of development, particularly carbon nanotubes and nanofiber composites, and the new graphite and polymer composites [35]. This fact, combined with the continued interest in nancomoposites based in nanometric clays [36], suggests that improvements in mechanical properties of particulate and short-fiber polymer composite materials will continue to be reported. 

C5 ras VP, Manfredi LB, Ton-That M-T, Vazquez A (2008) Physical and mechanical properties of thermoplastic starch/montmorillonite nanocomposite films. Carbohydr Polym 73 55-63 de Morals Teixeira E, Correa A, Manzoli A, de Lima Leite F, de Oliveira C, Mattoso L (2010) Cellulose nanofibers from white and naturally colored cotton fibers. Cellulose 17 595-606 de Moura MR, Aouada FA, Avena-Bustillos RJ, McHugh TH, Krochta JM, Mattoso LHC (2009) Improved barrier and mechanical properties of novel hydrox5q)ropyl methylcellulose edible films with chitosan/tripolyphosphate nanoparticles. J Food Eng 92 448—453 Dean K, Yu L, Wu DY (2007) Preparation and characterization of melt-extruded thermoplastic starch/clay nanocomposites. Compos Sci Technol 67 413 21 Duanmu J, Gamstedt EK, Rosling A (2007) Hygromechanical properties of composites of crosslinked allylglycidyl-ether modified starch reinforced by wood fibres. Compos Sci Technol 67 3090-3097... 

A very novel study that could be of importance for the future is that of functionalized cellulose nanofibers and nanocrystals blended with biodegradable polyesters and acrylic acid polymers (Winter and Bhattacharya, 2003). The nanocrystals were found to be markedly superior reinforcing agents than wood flour, and their behavior was similar to the exfoliated clays in terms of reinforcing properties (Winter and Bhattacharya, 2003). These continued new developments bode well for the future role of plant fiber based composite materials. 

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