Nano-Enhanced Conventional Composites

Furthermore, the introduction of organo-modified clays in an epoxy resin was found to lead to the formation of a stronger interface with E-glass fibers, with an increase of the interfacial shear strength of around of 30% for a filler content of 5 wt% [11]. 

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Improvements in the properties and performance of fiber-reinforced polymer matrix materials from the addition of nano- and microscale particles have been reported in the literature [8], The availabiHty of different types of nanoparticles offered the possibiHty to tailor fiber/matrix interactions at a nanoscale level. Recently, it has been proven that nanoparticles homogeneously dispersed in a polymer matrix are able to play a beneficial role on the fiber/matrix interfacial adhesion in different types of structural composites [ 11 ], as it will be shown later. Hence, regarding structural properties, nanocomposites appear particularly appropriate as means of enhancing the mechanical properties of conventional composites rather than their use as nanocomposites by themselves, except in some particular cases. 

Different uses of nanoreinforcements in structural composites were presented such as nanocomposite fibers, nano-enhancements in conventional composites, nano-enhancements in all-polymer composites and singlepolymer nanocomposites. 

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