Polymer Clay Nano-Composites

Multiscale Modeling of Polymer Nano-Composites

In recent years, polymer nano-composites (PNCs) have increasingly gained more attention due to their improved mechanical, barrier, thermal, optical, electrical and biodegradable properties in comparison with the conventional micro-composites or pristine polymers. With a modest addition of nanoparticles (usually less than 5wt. %), PNCs offer a wide range of improvements in moduli, strength, heat...

Synthesis and Characterization of Polymer/Nanosilicagel Nano-composites

In this study, a polymer-silica nanocomposite using the sol-gel method was synthesized in three steps at room temperature. The nanocomposite material was formed with an organic compound (polyethylene glycol) and inorganic silica nanoparticles. Furthermore, the size and the distribution of nanoparticles in the polymer matrix were characterized by a transmission electron microscope (TEM).  In add...

Nano-apatite/polymer composites: mechanical and physicochemical characteristics.

Hydrothermally synthesized acicular nano-apatite (Nap) was used as filler to make composites with a polyethylene glycol/poly(butylene terephthalate) (PEG/PBT) block copolymer (Polyactive 70:30). The Nap had a particle diameter of 9-25 nm and a length of 80-200 nm. The mechanical properties and the physiochemical characteristics of the composites, such as Young's modulus, swelling degree in wate...

Fullerene derivatives as nano-additives in polymer composites

Finite element modeling of polymer matrix nano-composites reinforced by nano-cylindrical fillers

A new three-dimensional unit cell model has been developed for modeling three constituent phases including inclusion, interphase and matrix. The total elastic modulus of nano-composite is evaluated.  Numerical results are in good agreement with the previous proposed theoretical modeling. Higher matrix and inclusion elastic modulus both can dramatically influence the total elastic modulus.