Nanoparticle-polymer composites

Keywords. Polymer latex, Miniemulsion, Heterophase polymerization, Polymer nanoparticles, Composite particles... 

Synthesis of polymer/nanoparticles composite materials is very important for the advanced material science. Materials of this type combine unique properties of nanoparticles with properties of polymers, and even reveal new properties not specific for their components. Moreover, a polymer also plays a role of stabilizer for extremely active nanoparticles. Metal oxides are an interesting class of inorganic nanoparticles due to optical, magnetic and electronic features [1-3],... 

Pryamitsyn, V., and Ganesan, V., Mechanisms of steady-shear rheology in polymer-nanoparticle composites, J. RheoL, 50, 655-683 (2006). 

Hasell T, Yang J, Wang W, Li J, Brown PD, Poliakoff M, Lester E, Howdle SM (2007) Preparation of polymer-nanoparticle composite beads by a nanoparticle-stabilised suspension polymerisation. J Mater Chem 17 4382-4386... 

Yu, A., Meiser, E, Cassagneau, T, Caruso, E, 2004. Fabrication of polymer-nanoparticle composite inverse opals by a one-step electrochemical co-deposition process. Nano Lett. 4,177-181. 

Depiction of three types of clay—polymer hybrid materials showing different levels of particle dispersion (Polymer-Nanoparticle Composites Part 1 (Nanotechnology), 2010). 

Due to recent improvements in visualization of nanoscopic material with enhanced resolution, huge advances in the characterization technology have been widespread in all the nanotechnology disciplines, compared to just about 20 years ago. A few examples of nanoscopic materials that are less than Ipm are illustrated in Figure 1.2. Current efforts in the nanoparticle—polymer field go into very small metallic and semiconductor nanoparticles with 1—2nm diameter, and use of micron-sized fillers (e.g., layered silicates) (Polymer-Nanoparticle Composites Part 1 (Nanotechnology), 2010). 

Besides clay-based nanocomposites, there has been huge discussion on the metallic and semiconductor-based hybrid materials. The ability of polymer materials to assemble into nanostructures describes the use of polymers providing exquisite order to nanoparticles. Finally, a discussion on potential applications of polymer—nanoparticle composites with a special focus on the use of dendrite polymers and nanoparticles for catalysis should follow (Polymer-Nanoparticle Composites Part 1 (Nanotechnology), 2010) (Figure 1.15). 

Smith, J. S., Bedrov, D., and Smith, G. D. A molecular dynamics simulation study of nanoparticle interactions in a model polymer-nanoparticle composite. Compos Sci Tech-noL, 63,1599-605 (2003). 

Yang, T.-I. and Kofinas, P. 2007. Dielectric properties of polymer nanoparticle composites. Polymer 48 791-798. 

Pryamitsyn V and Ganesan V (2006) Origins of linear viscoelastic behavior of polymer-nanoparticle composites, Macromolecules 39 844-856. 

Polymer-nanoparticle composite materials have a wide range of existing and potential applications. Since the RESOLV method allows considerable flexibility in the selection of stabilization agents, including the use of the matrix polymer itself as a stabilization agent, polymer-nanoparticle composite films may be prepared that are free from foreign substances. These clean nanocomposite materials are particularly useful in biomedical applications. 

T. Hanemann and D.V. Szabo. Polymer-Nanoparticle Composites From Synthesis to Modem Applications, Materials, Vol. 3, 2010, pp. 3468-3517. 

Lynden A. Archer is aprofessor of chemical engineering at Cornell University and the William C. Hooey director of the School of Chemical and Bimolecular Engineering Ithaca, New York. Since 2008, he has served as co-director of the KAUST-Cornell University (K AUST-CU) Center for energy and sustainability, which focuses on basic research and applications of polymer-nanoparticle composite materials. 

Polymer/nanoparticle composites have been extensively stndied since the 1990s. Becanse of the nanoscale dispersion and the high aspect ratios of the nanoparticles, polymer nanocomposites exhibit light weight, dimensional stabihty, heat and flame resistance, barrier properties, and improved modnlns and strength with far less reinforcement loading than conventional conqxisite connterparts. " ... 

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