Polymer nanocomposites nano-oxides

Three different types of nanomaterials, based on their dimensional characteristics, are generally used to prepare polymer nanocomposites. These include nanomaterials with only one dimension in the nanometre range (e.g. nano-clay), those with two dimensions in the nanometre scale (e.g. carbon nanotubes) and those that have all three dimensions in the nanometre scale (e.g. spherical silver nanoparticles), as stated earlier. Thus nanosize thin layered aluminosilicates or nanoclays, layer double hydroxide (LDH), a large number of nanoparticles of metals and their oxides, carbon nanotubes and cellulose nanofibres are used as nanomaterials in the preparation of vegetable oil-based polymer nanocomposites. 

K. Putz, O. Compton, C. Segar, Z. An, S.T. Nguyen, and L.C. Brinson, Evolution of order during vacuum-assisted self-assembly of graphene oxide paper and associated polymer nanocomposites, ACS Nano, 5 (8), 6601-6609, 2011. 

Rao CNR, Kulkami GU, Thomas PJ, Agrawal W, Gautam UK, Ghosh M (2003b) Nanocrystals of metals, semiconductors and oxides novel synthesis and applications. Curr Sci 85 1041-1045 Rao CNR, Kulkami GU, Thomas PJ (2005) Physical and chemical properties of nano-sized metal particles. In Nicolais L, Carotenuto G (eds) Metal-polymer nanocomposites. WUey, Hoboken, New Jersey, pp 1-36... 

The polymer-nanocomposites possess some attractive features. In contrast to thin metal films and cermets they are three-dimensional objects containing nano-size particles. The polymer matrix ixevents the oxidation of particles and coalescence, which is one of the reasons for instability and aging effects of free nanoparticle systems. 

To date, silica has been the focus of the majority of studies on oxide-based nanos-tructured materials. One of the major reasons for this is its easy processability, high chemical inertness and exceptional colloidal stability. Moreover, silica can be processed as a thin film with controllable porosity and optical transparency. All these properties make silica ideal for use in model systems, and it is widely used in many industrial areas ranging from paints and drug delivery to composite materials. Zou et al. have recently published a detailed review on the preparation, characterization, properties, and applications of polymer/silica nanocomposites and the reader is referred to this review for in-depth description of the various synthetic routes [16]. 

Abdullayev E, Joshi A, Wei W, Zhao Y, Lvov Y (2012) Enlargement of halloysite clay nanotube lumen by selective etehing of aluminum oxide. ACS Nano 6(8) 7216-7226 Alexandre M, Dubois P (2000) Polymer-layered silicate nanocomposites preparation, properties and uses of a new class of materials. Mater Sci Eng R Rep 28(1-2) 1-63 Aice A, Earle MJ, Katdare SP, Rodriguez H, Seddon KR (2007) Phase equilibria of mixtures of mutually immiscible ionie liquids. Fluid Phase Equilib 261(l-2) 427 33 Azizi Samir MAS, Alloin F, Dufresne A (2005) Review of recent research into cellulosic whiskers, their properties and their application in nanocomposite field. Biomacromolecules 6(2) 612-626... 

Rogers RD, Seddon KR (2003) Ionic liquids solvents of the future Science 302(5646) 792-793 Rosenau T, Hofinger A, Potthast A, Kosma P (2003) On the conformation of the cellulose solvent N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO) in solution. Polymen 44(20) 6153-6158 Rosenau T, Potthast A, Sixta H, Kosma P (2001) The chemistry of side reactions and byproduct formation in the system NMMO/cellulose (Lyocell process). Prog Polym Sci 26(9) 1763-1837 Schaefer DW, Justice RS (2007) How nano are nanocomposites Mactomolecules 40(24) 8501— 8517... 

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