Polymer composite structures particulate composites

The characteristics of particulate filled polymers are determined by the properties of their components, composition, structure and interactions [2]. These four factors are equally important and their effects are interconnected. The specific surface area of the filler, for example, determines the size of the contact surface between the filler and the polymer, thus the amount of the interphase formed. Surface energetics influence structure, and also the effect of composition on properties, as well as the mode of deformation. A relevant discussion of adhesion and interaction in particulate filled polymers cannot be carried out without defining the role of all factors which influence the properties of the composite and the interrelation among them. 

As was mentioned above, four main factors determine the properties of particulate filled polymers characteristics of the components, composition, structure and component interactions. All four are equally important and must be adjusted to achieve optimum properties and economics. 

Structure Development in Melt Processed Particulate-Filled Polymer Composites 207... 

Talc is a hydrated magnesium silicate that is composed of thin platelets primarily white in color. Talc is useful for lowering the cost of the formulation with minimal effect on physical properties. Because of its platy structure and aspect ratio, these extenders are considered reinforcement. Polymers filled with platy talc exhibit higher stiffness, tensile strength, and creep resistance, at ambient as well as elevated temperatures, than do polymers filled with particulate fillers. Talc is inert to most chemical reagents and acids. The actual chemical composition for commercial talc varies and is highly dependent on the location of its mining site. 

We have reviewed the recent development of a nonequilibrium statistical mechanical theory of polymeric glasses, and have provided a unified account of the structural relaxation, physical aging, and deformation kinetics of glassy polymers, compatible blends, and particulate composites. The specific conclusions are as follows ... 

A variety of organic-polymeric-based materials have been investigated for optical recording, including dyes (pigments), dye (pigment)-polymer composites, dye-polymer solutions, and polymer-metal-layered or particulate structures. In all instances, the light absorption function is provided by the dye or metal, and the polymer serves the role of binder and film former. 

Kozlov, G. V Yanovskii, Yu. G. and Zaikov, G. E. Structure and Properties of Particulate-Filled Polymer Composites The Fractal Analysis. New York Nova Science Publishers Inc. 2010,282 p. 

Structural Aspects of Adhesion in Particulate-Filled Polymer Composites... 

Up to now we considered pol5meric fiiactals behavior in Euclidean spaces only (for the most often realized in practice case fractals structure formation can occur in fractal spaces as well (fractal lattices in case of computer simulation), that influences essentially on polymeric fractals dimension value. This problem represents not only purely theoretical interest, but gives important practical applications. So, in case of polymer composites it has been shown [45] that particles (aggregates of particles) of filler form bulk network, having fractal dimension, changing within the wide enough limits. In its turn, this network defines composite polymer matrix structure, characterized by its fractal dimension polymer material properties. And on the contrary, the absence in particulate-filled polymer nanocomposites of such network results in polymer matrix structure invariability at nanofiller contents variation and its fractal dimension remains constant and equal to this parameter for matrix polymer [46]. 

Kozlov, G. V. Yanovskii, Yu.G. Lipatov, Yu.S. Fractal model for description of polymer matrix structural changes in particulate-fiUed composites. Mechanics of Composite Materials and Structures, 2002, 8(4), 467-474. 

Kozlov, G. V Lipatov, Yu. S. The change of polymer matrix structure in particulate-filled composites the fractal treatment. Mechanics of Composite Materials and Structures, 2004, 40(6), 827-834. 

Kozlov, G. V. Lipatov, Yu. S. Fractal and structural aspects of adhesion in particulate-filled polymer composites. Composite Interfaces, 2002,9(6), 509-527. 

Nji, J. and Li, G. (2012) Damage healing ability of a shape memory polymer based particulate composite with small thermoplastic contents. Smart Materials and Structures, 21, paper 025011 (10 pages). 

The modem methods of experimental and theoretical analysis of polymer materials structure and properties allow not only to confirm earlier propounded hypotheses, but to obtain principally new results. Let us consider some important problems of particulate-filled polymer nanocomposites, the solution of which allows to advance substantially in these materials properties understanding and prediction. Polymer nanocomposites multicomponentness (multiphaseness) requires their stmctural components quantitative characteristics determination. In this aspect interfacial regions play a particular role, since it has been shown earlier, that they are the same reinforcing element in elastomeric nanocomposites as nanofiller actually [1]. Therefore, the knowledge of interfacial layer dimensional characteristics is necessary for quantitative determination of one of the most important parameters of pol5mier composites in general their reinforcement degree [2, 3]. 

It is not uncommon for there to be as many as 20 or more additives in one polymer, all present in relatively small amounts, but nevertheless essential to ensure that the performance of the base polymer is acceptable for a particular end use. Many products are blends of two or more polymers or comprise two or more materials combined in a strategic way. For example, packaging materials commonly have a sandwich structure of three or four different polymers polymer composites are an important class of engineering materials containing substantial amounts of particulate or fibrous reinforcing agents. 

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