Polymer/layered silicate nanocomposite technology

Okamoto, M. (2003) Polymer/Layered Silicate Nanocomposites , Rapra Review Report No 163, 166 pp Rapra Technology Ltd., London. 

Okamoto, M. (2006) Recent advances in polymer/layered silicate nanocomposites an overview from science to technology. Materials Science and Technology, 22 (7), 756-779. 

Analysis of Thermoset Materials, Precursors and Products, Martin J. Forrest, Rapra Technology Ltd. Polymer/Layered Silicate Nanocomposites, Masami Okamoto, Toyota Technological Institute. 

Gilman, J.W., Kashiwagi, T., Nyden, M., Brown, J.E.T., Jackson, C.L., Lomakin, S., Giannelis, E.P., and Manias, E., Flammability studies of polymer layered silicate nanocomposites Polyolefin, epoxy, and vinyl ester resins, in Chemistry cmd Technology of Polymer Additives, Al-Malaika, S., Golovoy, A., and Wilkie, C.A., (Eds.), Blackwell Science, Oxford, U.K., 1999, Chapter 14, pp. 249-265. 

Morgan, A. B. 2006. Flame retarded polymer layered silicate nanocomposites A review of commercial and open literature systems. Polymers for Advanced Technologies 17 206-217. 

J. W. Gilman, T. Kashiwagi, M. Nyden, J. E. T. Brown, C. L. Jackson, S. Lomakin, E. P. Giannelis, and E. Manias, Elammability studies of polymer layered silicate nanocomposites Polyolefin, epoxy and vinyl ester resins. In Chemistry and Technology of Polymer Additives, ed. S. Al-Malaika, A. Golovoy, and C. A. Wilkie (Malden Black-well Science, 1999), pp. 249-65. 

Sheng N (2002) Micro/Nanoscale Modeling of Anisotropic Mechanical Properties of Polymer/Layered-Silicate Nanocomposites, MSc Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA. 

Alexandre, M. and Dubois, P. (2000) Polymer-layered silicate nanocomposites preparation, properties and uses of a new class of materials. Materials Science Engineering and Technology, R28,1-63. 

Lu, C.S. Mai, L.W. (2007). Permeability modeling of polymer-layered silicate nanocomposites. Composites Science and Technology, 67, 2895-2902... 

Gilman, J. W., Harris, R. H., Shields, J. R., Kashiwagi, T., and Morgan, A. B. 2006. A study of the flammability reduction mechanism of polystyrene-layered silicate nanocomposite Layered silicate reinforced carbonaceous char. Polymers far Advanced Technologies 17 263-271. 

Clays, natural or synthetic, are the most widely investigated and understood nanoadditives used to enhance the flame retardancy of polymers through nanocomposite technology, because of their unique properties, particularly the ease of surface treatment and application in polymer matrices. Clay can be cationic and anionic materials, in accordance with the charge on the clay layers. In this chapter, the focus is on two kinds of clays montmorillonite (MMT), a naturally occurring cationic clay that belongs to the smectite group of silicates, and LDH, an anionic clay that does occur naturally but for which the synthetic form is more common. Other clays will also be mentioned as appropriate. 

For more than a decade, numerous research studies have been carried out on the flame-retardant properties conferred by nanoparticles and mainly by organo-modified layered silicates (OMLS). Earlier work at Cornell University and National Institute of Standards and Technology in the United States showed that nanocomposites containing OMLS reduced polymer flammability and enhanced the formation of carbonaceous residue (char).14 Owing to a strong increase in polymer viscosity, impairing processability, and also due to the breakdown of ultimate mechanical properties, the acceptable rate of incorporation for nanoparticles to improve flame retardancy is generally restricted to less than 10 wt %. 

Bartholmai, M. and Schartel, B. 2004. Layered silicate polymer nanocomposites New approach or illusion for fire retardancy Investigations of the potentials and the tasks using a model system. Polymers for Advanced Technologies 15 355-64. 

The pol5mier nanocomposite field has been studied heavily in the past decade. However, polymier nanocomposite technology has been around for quite some time in the form of latex paints, carbon-black filled tires, and other pol5mier systems filled with nanoscale particles. However, the nanoscale interface nature of these materials was not truly understood and elucidated until recently [2 7]. Today, there are excellent works that cover the entire field of polymer nanocomposite research, including applications, with a wide range of nanofillers such as layered silicates (clays), carbon nanotubes/nanofibers, colloidal oxides, double-layered hydroxides, quantum dots, nanocrystalline metals, and so on. The majority of the research conducted to date has been with organically treated, layered silicates or organoclays. 

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