Methods of nanocomposite synthesis

Common solvent technique is based on a solvent system in which the polymer or pre-polymer is soluble and the silicate layers are swellable. The layered silicate is first swollen in a solvent, such as water, chloroform, or toluene. When the polymer and layered silicate solutions are mixed, the polymer chains intercalate and displace the solvent within the interlayer of the silicate. Upon solvent removal, the intercalated structure remains, resulting in the formation of PCN. Polyimide based nanocomposites are made by using a common solvent like dimethyl acetamide (DMAc) [22], 

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The second method of nanocomposite synthesis involves dissolving a polymer in a solvent, mixing with organophilic clay, and then removing the solvent [14,46-48]. Some... 

As mentioned above, the new method of cryochemical synthesis of polymer nanocomposite films has been developed based on co-deposition of M/ SC and monomer vapors at temperature 80K and subsequent low-temperature solid-state polymerization of monomer matrix ([2] and works cited herein). It has been established that a number of monomers (acrylonitrile, formaldehyde, /i-xylylene and its derivatives) polymerize in solid state in absence of thermal movement of molecules owing to own specific supra-molecular structure. When reaction is initiated by y- or UV-radiation the formation of a polymer matrix occurs even at the temperatures close to temperature of liquid helium [66-69]. 

Nanocomposites, in addition to small particle sizes usually are required to have a very uniform composition. These two requirements impose constraints on the methods of synthesis. In addition, the required form of the final product is given consideration in the choice of the method of their synthesis. These constraints resulted in numerous design strategies in methods of nanocomposite manufacture, discussed below. 

In this coimection, a cryochemical solid-phase synthesis of metal-polymer systems is of special importance. As a result of such a synthesis, metal clusters and organometallic assemblies formed at low temperatures are buried in a polymer environment, which offers possibilities to stabilize and study these products over a large temperature range. This method was first offered and described in reference 10. The thermal rearrangement of the initial low-temperature system is governed by relaxation processes in polymer matrix. In particular, the aggregation of metal atom clusters to form metal nanocrystals in cryochemically produced metal-polymer systems yields new nanocomposite materials with valuable properties. The study of the mechanism of cluster aggregation, which depends on the characteristics of the polymer matrix, will allow the nanocomposite structure to proceed in the needed direction. Thus, it becomes possible to determine the methods of cryochemical synthesis of metal-polymer materials with predetermined properties. 

The kinetics of PAA, synthesized from 4,4 -oxydianiline and pyromellitic dianhydride, solid-state imidization both in filler absence and with addition of 2 phr Na+-montmorillonite was studied [1], The nanofiller was treated by solution of P-phenylenediamine in HC1 and then washed by de-ionized water to ensure a complete removal of chloride ions. The conversion (imidization) degree Q was determined as a function of reaction duration t with the aid of Fourier transformation of IR-spectra bands 726 and 1014 cm 1. The samples for FTIR study were obtained by spin-coating of PAA/Na+-montmorillonite mixture solution in N,N-dimethylacetamide on KBr disks, which then were dried in vacuum for 48 h at 303 K. It was shown, that the used in paper [1] method gives exfoliated nanocomposites. The other details of nanocomposites polyimid/Na+-montmorillonite synthesis and study in paper [1] were adduced. The solid-state imidization process was made at four temperatures 7) 423, 473, 503 and 523 K. 

Zhao et al (70) developed a method for the synthesis of dendrimer-encapsulated metal nanoparticles based on sorbing metal ions into (modified) PAMAM dendrimers followed by a reduction. Dendrimers encapsulating copper, palladium, and platinum nanoparticles have been prepared. Hydroxyl-terminated PAMAM dendrimers were used to prepare encapsulated palladium (PAMAM generations 4, 6, and 8) and platinum (PAMAM generations 4 and 6) nanoparticles. The dendrimer-encapsulated palladium and platinum nanocomposites catalyzed the hydrogenation reaction of allyl alcohol and N-isopropyl acrylamide in water 71). 

The dip coating method enabled the synthesis of nanocomposite silica film with the laminated structure of abalone nacre, which is known for its strength,... 

Carbon nanotubes represent high potential fillers owing to their remarkably attractive mechanical, thermal and electrical properties. The incorporation of nanotubes in the polymer matrices can thus lead to synergistic enhancements in the composite properties even at very low volume fractions. This chapter provides a brief overview of the properties and synthesis methods of nanotubes for the generation of polymer nanocomposites. 

Methods of filler pretreatment preparation of a very uniform colloidal suspension of filler especially for chemical synthesis of nanocomposites the quality of the suspension determines the particle size of primary particles, the thickness of the coating and the uniformity of the material... 

The development of nanocomposites containing metal particles may be very rewarding since such materials can be useful in catalysts, an optical and electronic devices. Figure 16.18 shows the schematic diagram of the method of synthesis. The polymers used in this material were poly(4-methyl-l-pentene) and poly(te-trafluoroethylene). Dimethyl(cyclooctadiene)platinum(II) was used as the metal precursor. The metal precursor was dissolved in supercritical liquid carbon dioxide... 

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