Polymer-based nanocomposite materials

J. Baselga, Interphases in graphene polymer-based nanocomposites Achievements and challenges., Advanced Materials, vol. 23, pp. 5302-5310, 2011. 

MeGlashan, S. A, Halley, P. J. (2003). Preparation and characterization of biodegradable starch-based nanocomposite materials. Polymer International, 52, 1767-1773. 

L. Chazeau, C. Gauthier, G. Vigier and J.-Y Cavaille, "Relationships between microstructural aspects and mechanical properties in polymer based nanocomposites", in H.S. Nalwa, ed., Handbook of Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Materials and Nanocomposites, American Scientific Publishers, 2003. 

Figure 9.2 is a schematic representation of CdSe QDs dispersed in poly(hexyl methacrylate) by in situ polymerization. The polymer with long alkyl branches is expected to prevent or reduce phase separation of the QDs from the polymer matrix during polymerization. This technique resulted in the preparation of a series of QD-based nanocomposite materials for which laser scanned confocal microscopy imaging revealed a nearly uniform dispersion of nanoparticles within the polymethacrylate matrix (Fig. 9.3). Notably, the resulting macroscopic QD-polymer composites appeared to be clear and uniformly colored.

The nanopalpation technique, nanometer-scale mechanical and rheological measurement based on AFM, was introduced and shown to be useful in analyzing nanometer-scale materials properties for the surfaces and interfaces of polymer nanoalloys and polymer-based nanocomposites. It enables us to obtain not only structural information but also mechanical information about a material at the same place and time. 

The fascinating properties exhibited by nanoparticles, such as blue shift of the absorption spectrum, size-dependent luminescence, etc., are various manifestations of the so-called quantum confinement effect. These unique properties make ZnO a promising candidate for applications in optical and optoelectronic devices [35-38]. Polymer-based nanocomposites are the subject of considerable research due to the possibility of combining the advantages of both polymers and nanoparticles. There are several applications of polymeric nanocomposites based on their optical, electrical and mechanical properties. Further, nanocrystals dispersed in suitable solid hosts can be stabilized for long periods of time. Polystyrene (PS)— an amorphous, optically clear thermoplastic material, which is flexible in thin-film form—is often chosen as a host matrix because of its ideal properties for investigating optical properties. It is one of the most extensively used plastic materials, e.g., in disposable cutlery, plastic models, CD and DVD cases, and smoke-detector housings. 

Yoshihiko Arao received his Ph.D. (2010) at the University of Waseda (Japan) under the supervision of Hiroyuki Kawada. There he spent 4 years as Assistant Professor at the Doshisha University. He published more than 30 papers, and his h-index is 6. He became involved from manufacturing to evaluation of polymer-based composite materials. Now he is focused on the mechanical and functional properties of nanocomposites. Contact Yoshihiko.arao gmail.com... 

In the large field of nanotechnology, polymer-based nanocomposites have become a prominent area of current research and development for biomedical applications.In principle, nanocomposites are an extreme case of composite materials in which interface interactions between the two phases, the matrix and the reinforcement, are maximized. In the literature, the term nanocomposite is used for polymers with sub-micrometre dispersions. In polymer-based nanocomposites, nanometre sized particles of inorganic or organic materials are homogeneously dispersed as separate particles in a polymer matrix. Researchers have tried a variety of processing techniques to obtain dense polymer nanocomposite films. The incorporation of nanostructures into polymers can generally be done in different ways as indicated below ... 

Biodegradable polymer-based nanocomposites appear to have a very bright future for a wide range of apphcations as high-performance biodegradable materials. 

P. Laura, P. Debora, T. Luigi, V. Luca, M.K. Jose, Processing of nanostructured polymers and advanced polymeric based nanocomposites. Materials Science and Engineering R 85 (2014) 1-46. 

Y. Brechet, J.Y CavaiUe, E. Chabert, L. Chazeau, R. Dendievel, L. Flandin, C. Gauthier, Polymer based nanocomposites effect of flUer-flller and filler-matrix interactions. Advanced Engineering Materials 3 (2001) 571-577. 

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