Micron-scale fillers

Unlike traditional polymer composites containing micron-scale fillers, the incorporation of nanoscale CNTs into a polymer system results in very short distance between the fillers, thus the properties of composites can be largely modified even at an extremely low content of filler. For example, the electrical conductivity of CNT/epoxy nanocomposites can be enhanced several orders of magnitude with less than 0.5 wt.% of CNTs... 

Several micron-sized layered silicates, such as talcs, can improve the fire retarding behavior of EVA by partial substitution of metal hydroxides. Clerc et al.63 have shown that better fire performance was achieved using higher values of the lamellarity index and specific surface area for four different types of talcs in MH/EVA blends. Expanded mineral and charred layers were formed, similar to intumescent compositions with APP, proving the barrier effect on mass transfer, even at the micron scale for the mineral filler. 

Abstract Nanostructured organic-inorganic composites have been the source of much attention in both academic and industrial research in recent years. Composite materials, by definition, result from the combination of two distinctly dissimilar materials, the overall behavior determined not only by properties of the individual components, but by the degree of dispersion and interfacial properties. It is termed a nanocomposite when at least one of the phases within the composite has a size-scale of order of nanometers. Nanocomposites have shown improved performance (compared to matrices containing more conventional, micron-sized fillers) due to their high sirnface area and significant aspect ratios - the properties being achieved at much lower additive concentrations compared to conventional systems. 

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