Morphology and Gas Barrier Properties of Polymer Nanocomposites

Abbas Ghanbari, Marie-Claude Heuzey, Pierre J. Carreau and Minh-Tan Ton-That  

Polymers filled with layered silicates, in comparison with unfilled polymers or common microcomposites, have shown improvements in several properties. The incorporation of nanolayers of high aspect ratio at very low volume fractions can improve the tensile modulus, strength, gas barrier properties, heat resistance, and decrease flammability of polymer nanocomposites. Thus, one should expect a reduction in thickness of commercial packaging containers and improvement in barrier properties by incorporation of nanoplatelets [1-3]. 

Generally, at least one critical dimension of dispersed particles in nanocomposites must be in the nanometer range ( 100nm). Typical nanomaterials, which are currently under investigation, are classified by their geometries. Silica nanoparticles and carbon black are examples of nanoparticles, while carbon nanotubes and nanofibers are classified as fibrous nanomaterials. Silicate layers with platelike structure belong to the family of layered nanomaterials [4]. 

Polymer Morphology Principles, Characterization, and Processing, First Edition. Edited by Qipeng Guo. 2016 John Wiley Sons, Inc. Published 2016 by John Wiley Sons, Inc. 

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Gain O, Espuche E, Pollet E, Alexandre M, Dubois P. Gas barrier properties of poly(e-caprolactone)/clay nanocomposites Influence of the morphology and polymer/ clay interactions. J Polym Sci, Part B Polym Phys 2004 43 205-214. 

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