Plastic nanocomposites

MAJOR PRODUCT APPLICATIONS pigment in many materials, coatings, paints, plastics, nanocomposites... 

An interesting novel RP development that differs fi-om what has been occurring involves special nanotechnology used to reinforce plastics. The Business Communications Co., Inc., Norwalk, CT reported that total worldwide sales during 2003 of plastic nanocomposites were 90.8 million with about 78% thermoplastic and 22% thermoset. By 2008 sales should reach 211 million with about 90% thermoplastic and 10% thermoset. 

Azizi Samir MAS, Alloin F, Sanchez J-Y et al (2004d) Cross-linked nanocomposite polymer electrolytes reinforced with cellulose whiskers. Macromolecules 37 4839 844 Azizi Samir MAS, Alloin F, Sanchez J-Y et al (2004e) Preparation of cellulose whiskers reinforced nanocomposites from an organic medium suspension. Macromolecules 37 1386-1393 Azizi Samir MAS, Mateos AM, Alloin F et al (2004f) Plasticized nanocomposite polymer electrolytes based on poly(oxyethylene) and cellulose whiskers. Electrochim Acta 49 4667-4677 Azizi Samir MAS, Alloin F, Dufi-esne A (2005a) Review of recent research into cellulosic whiskers, their properties and their application in nanocomposite field. Biomacromolecules 6 612-626 Azizi Samir MAS, Chazeau L, Alloin F et al (2005b) POE-based nanocomposite polymer electrolytes reinforced with cellulose whiskers. Electrochim Acta 50 3897-3903 Azizi Samir MAS, Alloin F, Dufresne A (2006) High performance nanocomposite polymer electrolytes. Compos Interfaces 13 545-559... 

Lan, T. Qian, G. Liang, Y. Cho, J.W. FR application of plastic nanocomposites. Technical paper. http //www.nanocor.com/tech papers/FRAppsPlastic.asp. 

Azizi Samir, M. A. S., Mateos, A. M., et al. (2004). Plasticized nanocomposites polymer electrol34es based on poly(oxyethylene) and cellulose whiskers, Electrochem. Acta, 49,4667-4677. 

Applying Surface Modification Methods to Promote Adhesion to Plastic Nanocomposite and Composite Materials... 

PLA/PCL-OMMT nano-composites were prepared effectively using fatty amides as clay modifier. The nano-composites shows increasing mechanical properties and thermal stability (Hoidy et al, 2010c). New biopolymer nano-composites were prepared by treatment of epoxidized soybean oil and palm oil, respectively plasticized PLA modified MMT with fatty nitrogen compounds. The XRD and TEM results confirmed the production of nanocomposites. The novelty of these studies is use of fatty nitrogen compoimds which reduces the dependence on petroleum-based surfactants (Al-Mulla et al., 2011 Al-Mulla et ah, 2011 Al- Mulla et ah, 2010c). 

Al-Mulla, E.A.J., Yunus, W.M.Z., Ibrahim, N.A. and Abdul Rahman MZ. 2010c. Epoxidized palm oil plasticized polylactic add /fatty nitrogen compounds modified clay nanocomposites preparation and charaderizations. Polymers and Polymer... 

Paul, M., Alexandre, M., Degee, P., Henrist, C., Rulmont, A., and Dubois, P. 2002. New nanocomposite materials based on plasticized poly(L -lactide) and organo-modified montmorillonites thermal and morphological study. Polymer 44 443-450. 

FIGURE 3.24 Plots of volume fraction of the filled rubber in the swollen gel (Vrf) against aging temperature for acrylic rubber (ACM)-silica and epoxidized natural rubber (ENR)-silica hybrid nanocomposites. (From Bandyopadhyay, A. and Bhowmick, A.K., Plastic Rubber Comp. Macromol. Eng., 35, 210, 2006. Courtesy of Money Publishers.)... 

Biodegradable Polymer-based Nanocomposites Nanostructure Control and Nanocomposite Foaming with the Aim of Producing Nano-cellular Plastics... 

Pol Tner Nanocomposites are novel plastic compounds with a filler having dimensions between 1 and 100 nm. They have attracted much attention in the past because nanocomposites exhibit markedly improved properties like stiffness, thermal flammability, improved barrier properties and others compared to the unfilled matrices [3], Among all potential fillers, those based on easily available clay and layered silicates have been more widely investigated for some time now. 

The most important materials developed are nanocomposites and nanotubes. Fabrication of the first nanocomposites was inspired by nature (biomineralisation). Nanocomposites based on nanoclays and plastics are seen as ideal materials for improved barrier properties against oxygen, water, carbon dioxide and volatiles [37]. This makes them in particular suitable for retaining flavours in foods. The technology is rather straightforward using commercially available nanoclays and extrusion processing. 

In rubber-plastic blends, clay reportedly disrupted the ordered crystallization of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) and had a key role in shaping the distribution of iPP and ethylene propylene rubber (EPR) phases larger filler contents brought about smaller, less coalesced and more homogeneous rubber domains [22]. Clays, by virtue of their selective residence in the continuous phase and not in the rubber domains, exhibited a significant effect on mechanical properties by controlling the size of rubber domains in the heterophasic matrix. This resulted in nanocomposites with increased stiffness, impact strength, and thermal stability. 

---