Polymer Nanocomposites

In the last 20 years, there has been a strong emphasis on the development of polymer nanocomposites, where at least one of the dimensions of the filler material is of the order of a nanometer. Polymer nanocomposites are fundamentally different from traditional filled polymers because of the immense internal interfacial area and the nanoscopic nature of the nanomaterials. The new multifunctional properties derived from the nano-structure of nanocomposites provide an opportunity to circumvent the traditional properties associated with traditional composites. Numerous examples can be found in the literature that show significant improvements in multifunctional properties of the nanocomposites and this new class materials now being introduced in structural applications, such as gas barrier film, flame retardant product, and other load-bearing applications. This review offers a comprehensive review on the basic concept, technology and application for polymer nanocomposites.