Nanocomposite definition

Silicone co-polymer networks and IPNs have recently been reviewed.321 The development of IPNs is briefly described, and the definitions of the main (non-exclusive) classes of the IPNs are cited. Examples of latex IPNs, simultaneous and sequential IPNs, semi-IPNs, and thermoplastic IPNs are provided. The use of silicone-silicone IPNs in studies of model silicone networks is also illustrated. Networks in which siloxane and non-siloxane components are connected via chemical bonds are considered co-polymer networks, although some other names have been applied to such networks. Today, some of the examples in this category should, perhaps, be discussed as organic-inorganic hybrids, or nanocomposites. Silicone IPNs are discussed in almost all of the major references dealing with IPNs.322-324 Silicone IPNs are also briefly discussed in some other, previously cited, reviews.291,306... 

CNTs may consist of just one layer (i.e. single-walled carbon nanotubes, SWCNTs), two layers (DWCNTs) or many layers (MWCNTs) and per definition exhibit diameters in the range of 0.7 < d < 2 nm, 1 < d < 3 nm, and 1. 4 < d < 150 nm, respectively. The length of CNTs depends on the synthesis technique used (Section 1.1.4) and can vary from a few microns to a current world record of a few cm [16]. This amounts to aspect ratios (i.e. length/diameter) of up to 107, which are considerably larger than those of high-performance polyethylene (PE, Dyneema). The aspect ratio is a crucial parameter, since it affects, for example, the electrical and mechanical properties of CNT-containing nanocomposites. 

Figure 7.5 shows, for the same period, the relative number of recent patents per fibre type. Nanotubes and nanocomposites, particularly carbon nanotubes, are generating intense research activity whereas research is definitely weaker for nanofibres. Figure 7.6 shows, for the same period, the recent patents for the different nano-reinforcements. 

The close fit of the experimental data and the values predicted by the constitutive modified Halpin-Tsai equations I and II (24) and (25), as seen in Fig. 43 (for NR) illustrates the appropriate definition of the IAF. Table 10 also confirms that newly devised equations (24) and (25) provide astounding results because their predictions conform to the experimental data. The introduction of IAF imparts a definitive change to the predicting ability of the constitutive equations for polymer/filler nanocomposites (Fig. 43 Table 10). 

In the first part, emphasis will be put on the linear optical properties of dielectric media doped with noble metal nanoparticles. Indeed, the study of the linear response is definitely needed to further explore the nonlinear one. We will then introduce the fundamentals of the theoretical tools required to understand why and how people inquire into the third-order nonlinear properties of nanocomposite materials. In the second part, experimental results will be presented by first examining the different nonlinear optical phenomena which have been observed in these media. We will then focus on the nanoparticle intrinsic nonlinear susceptibility before analysing the influence of the main morphological factors on the nonlinear optical response. The dependence of the latter on laser characteristics will finally be investigated, as well as the crucial role played by different thermal effects. 

Hence, finite size effects on the optical response of metal nanoparticles are very difficult to take into account in an accurate manner. Moreover, in most experiments carried out on thin nanocomposite films or colloidal solutions the particle size distribution is not mono-dispersed but more or less broad, that can be usually determined by analysis of transmission electronic microscopy images. It should be underlined that the relevant quantity for smdying size effects in the optical response of such media can definitely not be the mean cluster radius , although it is often used in the literature [28-33], since the contribution of one nanoparticle to the optical response of the whole medium is proportional to its volume, i.e. to (cf. Eq. 7). The relevant quantity, that we call the optical mean radius , would then rather be the third-order momentum of the size distribution, = / ... 

Polymer nanocomposites are combinations of polymers containing inorganic or organic fillers of definite geometries (fibres, flakes, spheres, particulates and so on). The use of fillers, which have one dimension on the nanometre scale, enables the production of polymer nanocomposites. Functional nanocomposites with specific properties can be custom-made by combining metal nanoparticles (MNP) into the polymer matrix. 

Let us consider two more important aspects of nanofiller particles aggregation within the frameworks of the model [31]. Some features of the indicated process are defined by nanoparticle diffusion at nanocomposite processing. Specifically, length scale, connected with diffusible nanoparticle, is correlation length of diffusion. By definition, the growth phenomena in sites, remote more than are statistically independent. Such definition allows to connect the value with the mean distance between nanofiller particle aggregates L. The value can be calculated according to the equation as in what follows [31] ... 

Composites are engineered materials made from two or more constituent materials with significandy different physical or chemical properties which remain separate and distinct on a macroscopic level within the finished structure. Nanocomposites can be defined [18] as multiphase solid materials, in which at least one of the phases has a dimension of less than 100 nanometers (nm). In other words, the stmctures have nanometer-scale dimensional repeat distances between the different phases that make up the unity. In the broadest sense this definition can include colloids, porous (mesoporous) media, gels, and copolymers, but is more usually taken to mean the solid combination of nanodimensional phases differing in properties due to dissimilarities in structure and chemistry. The properties of the nanocomposites are different from the bulk composites. 

Successful incorporation of magnetic nanoparticles into a conductive polymer matrix will definitely widen their applicability in the fields of electronics, biomedical dmg delivery, and optics. These doubly functionalized nanocomposites will exhibit the magnetic properties of the magnetic particles and the conducting properties of the conductive-polymer matrices. However, one of the challenges so far is the abihty to integrate a high... 

Before discussing the flow behavior of polymeric nanocomposites (PNCs), the nature of these materials should be outlined. As the name indicates, PNCs must contain at least two components, a polymeric matrix with dispersed nanoparticles [Utracki, 2004]. PNCs with thermoplastics, thermosets, and elastomers have been produced. The nanoparticles, by lUPAC s definition, must have at least one dimension that is not larger than 2 nm. They can be of any shape, but the most common for structural PNCs are sheets about 1 nm thick with the aspect ratio p=D/t= 20 to 6000, where D is the inscribed (or equivalent) diameter and t is the thickness of the sheet. These inorganic lamellar solids might be either natural or synthetic [Utracki et al., 2007]. 

Perhaps it is necessary to make clear the terms "hybrids" and "nanocompesites" before the discussion of the nanocomposites, since it is somewhat ambiguous to identify whether materials fall into "nanocomposites" or not. The most wide-ranging definition of a hybrid is a material that includes two moieties blended on the molecular scale. 

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. 

In further quest for development of more efficient materials, clue had been provided by ongoing mixed (interdisciplinary) research. Intelligently the immediate inspiration was drawn from mixed systems (i.e., blends, alloys or composites) based on conventional polymers, metals, and ceramics. Soon it was realized that the already established wide applicability of CPs/ICPs can be further expended by formation of multiscale/multiphase systems, e.g., a wide variety of electronically, electrochemically, and/or optoelec-tronically active blends (BLNs), conjugated copolymers (CCPs) and composites (CMPs) [both bulk or nanocomposites (NCs)] or hybrids (HYBs) [11,14-16,52,109,113,120,128,131,132,191-205]. The next section of the chapter covers the fundamental aspects of CP-based BLNs, CCPs, and NCs/ HYBs. In particular, their definitions (including etymology), types, properties, synthetic routes, and practical applications have been discussed with the help of suitable examples from the open literature. 

The nanocomposite coatings based on PANI and CNTs prepared by EPD have an absolutely dissimilar behaviour. Both PANI film deposited on the bare electrode and on the modified electrode by CNTs have a similar E and corr whereas the nanocomposite film formed by CNTs co-deposited with PANI has the best anticorrosive behaviour (Figure 10.18). The difference is attributed to van der Waals attractive interaction between CNTs and PANI occurring when CNTs are in PANI EPD solution. Definitively, the addition of CNTs to PANI is advantageous for the anticorrosion properties of the PANI-based coating. In fact, CNTs allow to increase the amount of PANI deposited both in EP and in electrophoretic co-deposition, and moreover, in the case of EPD process, improve the electroactivity of the nanocomposite coating. 

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