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Polymer Nanocomposites: Preparation, Characterisation and Applications

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A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanocomposite Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2021) | Viewed by 37306

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Prof. Dr. Kinga Pielichowska

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Department of Biomaterials and Composites, Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH University of Krakow, Al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Interests: polymers; (nano)composites; polysaccharides; biomaterials; phase change materials, thermal analysis, materials characterization
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Dear Colleagues,

Polymer nanocomposites are an interesting and rapidly growing class of novel materials with enhanced properties, even at low nanofiller loads. They are considered to be promising materials in a wide variety of applications, including automotive, aerospace, mechanics, electronics and biomedical system applications.

The structure, properties and their relationships in polymer nanocomposites strongly depend not only on the polymer matrix type, its average molar mass, its dispersity and the architecture of polymer chains, but also on the type, chemical composition, shape, size and content of nanoparticles and their compatibility with polymer matrix. Proper functionalization of nanomaterials can substantially improve polymer–filler compatibility and/or lead to new desirable features. Depending on these factors, nanoparticles can strongly influence mechanical, rheological and optical properties; flame retardancy; and the thermal and electrical conductivity of polymer matrices. It is also well-known that nanoparticles can change the thermal stability and degradation mechanism (including kinetics) of a polymer matrix. They may influence the mechanism of polymer matrix crystallization and facilitate formation of new crystalline structures.

This Special Issue of Nanomaterials will attempt to cover the most recent advances in polymer nanocomposites, including their preparation, compatibilization and processing, along with the properties and methods of their characterization. It will also report on nano-effects like entanglements, confinement and other phenomena connected to the incorporation of nano-size particles to polymer matrix and their influence on the behavior of macromolecules. Papers on applications of polymer nanocomposites in different sectors, ranging from mechanical engineering, automotive and buildings to electronics and biomedicine are welcome. I hope this Special Issue will contribute to a better understanding of polymer-based nanocomposite structure and properties, thus opening further application perspectives.

In this Special Issue, “Polymer Nanocomposites: Preparation, Characterization and Applications”, full research papers and reviews will be published.

Dr. Kinga Pielichowska
Guest Editor

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Keywords

polymer nanocomposites
nanofillers
nanoparticles
processing
characterizations
nano-effects
properties
applications

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

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4 pages, 207 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Polymer Nanocomposites: Preparation, Characterisation and Applications

by Kinga Pielichowska

Nanomaterials 2022, 12(11), 1900; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12111900 - 1 Jun 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1348

Abstract

Polymer nanocomposites are an interesting and rapidly growing class of novel materials with enhanced properties, and these enhancements can be observed even at low nanofiller loading [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Nanocomposites: Preparation, Characterisation and Applications)

Research

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18 pages, 6256 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation, Characterization, and Bioactivity Evaluation of Polyoxymethylene Copolymer/Nanohydroxyapatite-g-Poly(ε-caprolactone) Composites

by Kinga Pielichowska, Paula Szuba, Joanna Maciocha, Beata Macherzyńska, Katarzyna Nowicka and Piotr Szatkowski

Nanomaterials 2022, 12(5), 858; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12050858 - 3 Mar 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1555

Abstract

In this work, nanohydroxyapatite (HAp) was functionalized with poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), using 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) as a coupling agent, and then incorporated into the polyoxymethylene copolymer (POM) matrix using the extrusion technique. The obtained POM/HAp-g-PCL composites were investigated using FTIR, DSC, TOPEM DSC, and TG methods. Mechanical properties were studied using destructive and non-destructive ultrasonic methods, wettability, and POM crystallization kinetics in the presence of HAp-g-PCL. Moreover, preliminary bioactivity evaluation of the POM/HAp-g-PCL composites was performed using the Kokubo method. It was found that the introduction of HAp-g-PCL to the POM matrix has a limited effect on the phase transitions of POM as well as on its degree of crystallinity. Importantly, HAp grafted with PCL caused a significant increase in the thermal stability of the POM, from 292 °C for pristine POM to 333 °C for POM modified with 2.5% HAp-g-PCL. If unmodified HAp was used, a distinct decrease in the thermal stability of the POM was observed. Crystallization kinetic studies confirmed that HAp-g-PCL, in small amounts, can act as a nucleating agent for the POM crystallization process. Moreover, incorporation of HAp-g-PCL, although slightly decreasing the mechanical properties of POM composites, improved the crucial parameter in biomedical applications, namely the in vitro bioactivity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Nanocomposites: Preparation, Characterisation and Applications)

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11 pages, 2311 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Relationship between the Microstructure and Performance of Graphene/Polyethylene Composites Investigated by Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy

by Xiaobing Han, Tao Chen, Yuan Zhao, Jie Gao, Yanan Sang, Houhua Xiong and Zhiyuan Chen

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(11), 2990; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11112990 - 6 Nov 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 1809

Abstract

The quantitative characterization of microstructure is most desirable for the establishment of structure-property relationships in polymer nanocomposites. In this work, the effects of graphene on the microstructure, mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties of the obtained graphene/polyethylene (PE) composites were investigated. In order to reveal the structure-performance relationship of graphene/PE composites, especially for the effects of the relative free volume fraction (f_r) and interfacial interaction intensity (β), positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) was employed for its quantitative description. The relative free volume fraction f_r gives a good explanation of the variation for surface resistivity, melting temperature, and thermal stability, and the variation of tensile strength and thermal conductivity agree well with the results of interfacial interaction intensity β. The results showed that f_r and β have a significant effect on the properties of the obtained graphene/PE composites, and the effect on the properties was revealed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Nanocomposites: Preparation, Characterisation and Applications)

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17 pages, 6611 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Natural Antimicrobial Nano Composite Fibres Manufactured from a Combination of Alginate and Oregano Essential Oil

by Hao Lu, Jonathan A. Butler, Nicole S. Britten, Prabhuraj D. Venkatraman and Sameer S. Rahatekar

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(8), 2062; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11082062 - 13 Aug 2021

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5275

Abstract

Alginate is a linear biodegradable polysaccharide polymer, which is bio-renewable and widely used for various biomedical applications. For the next generation of medical textiles, alginate nanofibres are desirable for their use in wound dressings that are biocompatible, sustainable, and abundantly available. This study has developed a unique manufacturing process for producing alginate nanofibres with exceptional antimicrobial properties of oregano essential oil (OEO) as a natural antimicrobial agent. OEO with varying degrees of concentration was incorporated in an aqueous alginate solution. Appropriate materials and electrospinning process parameter selection allowed us to manufacture alginate fibres with a range of diameters between 38 and 105 nm. A unique crosslinking process for alginate nanofibres using extended water soaking was developed. Mechanical characterisation using micro-mechanical testing of nonwoven electrospun alginate/oregano composite nanofibres revealed that it was durable. An extensive antimicrobial study was carried out on alginate/oregano composite nanofibres using a range of Gram-positive (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Listeria monocytogenes) and Gram-negative bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella enterica), which are common wound and food pathogens. The results indicated that increasing the concentration of OEO from 2 to 3 wt % showed improved antimicrobial activity against all pathogens, and activity was significantly improved against MRSA compared to a non-alginate-based control disk containing OEO. Therefore, our research suggests that all-natural alginate/oregano nanofibre composite textiles offer a new generation of medical textiles for advanced wound dressing technology as well as for food packaging applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Nanocomposites: Preparation, Characterisation and Applications)

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13 pages, 7413 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quantitative Visualization of the Nanomechanical Young’s Modulus of Soft Materials by Atomic Force Microscopy

by Seongoh Kim, Yunkyung Lee, Manhee Lee, Sangmin An and Sang-Joon Cho

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(6), 1593; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11061593 - 17 Jun 2021

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 4030

Abstract

The accurate measurement of nanoscale mechanical characteristics is crucial in the emerging field of soft condensed matter for industrial applications. An atomic force microscope (AFM) can be used to conduct nanoscale evaluation of the Young’s modulus on the target surface based on site-specific force spectroscopy. However, there is still a lack of well-organized study about the nanomechanical interpretation model dependence along with cantilever stiffness and radius of the tip apex for the Young’s modulus measurement on the soft materials. Here, we present the fast and accurate measurement of the Young’s modulus of a sample’s entire scan surface using the AFM in a newly developed PinPoint^TM nanomechanical mode. This approach enables simultaneous measurements of topographical data and force–distance data at each pixel within the scan area, from which quantitative visualization of the pixel-by-pixel topographical height and Young’s modulus of the entire scan surface was realized. We examined several models of contact mechanics and showed that cantilevers with proper mechanical characteristics such as stiffness and tip radius can be used with the PinPoint^TM mode to accurately evaluate the Young’s modulus depending on the sample type. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Nanocomposites: Preparation, Characterisation and Applications)

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22 pages, 12652 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Studying the Adsorptive Behavior of Poly(Acrylonitrile-co-Styrene) and Carbon Nanotubes (Nanocomposites) Impregnated with Adsorbent Materials towards Methyl Orange Dye

by Khamael M. Abualnaja, Ahmed E. Alprol, M. A. Abu-Saied, Abdallah Tageldein Mansour and Mohamed Ashour

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(5), 1144; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11051144 - 28 Apr 2021

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 2263

Abstract

In this study, a polymeric (acrylonitrile-co-styrene) P(AN-co-St) composite was impregnated with adsorbents, such as sulfonated and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), to increase the adsorptive characteristics of the nanocomposite upon the removal of methyl orange (MO) dye under different conditions. A novel nanocomposite copolymer mixture of P(AN-co-St) and SP(AN-co-St) was used. MWCNTs were prepared by a low-cost chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. Variation in MO adsorption onto the three nanocomposites was examined in an aqueous solution via the batch technique with respect to contact time, initial MO concentration, adsorbent dosage, pH, and temperature. The surface of the nanocomposites was characterized by a scanning electron microscope (SEM), particle size distribution (PSD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and Raman analysis. The experimental data showed that the efficiency of P(AN-co-St)/ MWCNT removal increased under the conditions of an acidic pH (3 and 5) with an agitation speed of 140 rpm, a sorbent weight of 0.01 g, and 20 mg of initial dye. The maximum sorption capacities were 121.95, 48.78, and 47.84 mg g⁻¹ for the P(AN-co-St)/ MWCNTs, SP(AN-co-St), and P(AN-co-St) composites, respectively, as assessed by the Langmuir model. Additional isotherm models, such as the Freundlich, Temkin, and Halsey models, were used to examine the experimental data. A pseudo-second-order model was found to be more fitting for describing the sorption. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Nanocomposites: Preparation, Characterisation and Applications)

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14 pages, 3618 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Graphene Oxide and Nanoclay Based Hybrid Filler in Chlorobutyl-Natural Rubber Blend for Advanced Gas Barrier Applications

by Jibin Keloth Paduvilan, Prajitha Velayudhan, Ashin Amanulla, Hanna Joseph Maria, Allisson Saiter-Fourcin and Sabu Thomas

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(5), 1098; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11051098 - 23 Apr 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2631

Abstract

Nanomaterials have engaged response from the scientific world in recent decades due to their exceptional physical and chemical properties counter to their bulk. They have been widely used in a polymer matrix to improve mechanical, thermal, barrier, electronic and chemical properties. In rubber nanocomposites, nanofillers dispersion and the interfacial adhesion between polymer and fillers influences the composites factual properties. In the present work, a comparison of the hybrid effects of carbon black with two different nanofillers (graphene oxide and nanoclay) was studied. The 70/30 composition of chlorobutyl rubber/natural rubber elastomer blend was taken as per the blend composition optimized from our previous studies. The hybrid effects of graphene oxide and nanoclay in dispersing the nanofillers were studied mainly by analyzing nanocomposite barrier properties. The results confirm that the combined effect of carbon black with graphene oxide and nanoclay could create hybrid effects in decreasing the gas permeability. The prepared nanocomposites which partially replace the expensive chlorobutyl rubber can be used for tyre inner liner application. Additionally, the reduction in the amount of carbon black in the nanocomposite can be an added advantage of considering the environmental and economic factors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Nanocomposites: Preparation, Characterisation and Applications)

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15 pages, 3669 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Highly Skin-Conformal Laser-Induced Graphene-Based Human Motion Monitoring Sensor

by Sung-Yeob Jeong, Jun-Uk Lee, Sung-Moo Hong, Chan-Woo Lee, Sung-Hwan Hwang, Su-Chan Cho and Bo-Sung Shin

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(4), 951; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11040951 - 8 Apr 2021

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 4767

Abstract

Bio-compatible strain sensors based on elastomeric conductive polymer composites play pivotal roles in human monitoring devices. However, fabricating highly sensitive and skin-like (flexible and stretchable) strain sensors with broad working range is still an enormous challenge. Herein, we report on a novel fabrication technology for building elastomeric conductive skin-like composite by mixing polymer solutions. Our e-skin substrates were fabricated according to the weight of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and photosensitive polyimide (PSPI) solutions, which could control substrate color. An e-skin and 3-D flexible strain sensor was developed with the formation of laser induced graphene (LIG) on the skin-like substrates. For a one-step process, Laser direct writing (LDW) was employed to construct superior durable LIG/PDMS/PSPI composites with a closed-pore porous structure. Graphene sheets of LIG coated on the closed-porous structure constitute a deformable conductive path. The LIG integrated with the closed-porous structure intensifies the deformation of the conductive network when tensile strain is applied, which enhances the sensitivity. Our sensor can efficiently monitor not only energetic human motions but also subtle oscillation and physiological signals for intelligent sound sensing. The skin-like strain sensor showed a perfect combination of ultrawide sensing range (120% strain), large sensitivity (gauge factor of ~380), short response time (90 ms) and recovery time (140 ms), as well as superior stability. Our sensor has great potential for innovative applications in wearable health-monitoring devices, robot tactile systems, and human–machine interface systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Nanocomposites: Preparation, Characterisation and Applications)

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15 pages, 1981 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Generalized Approach for Evaluating the Mechanical Properties of Polymer Nanocomposites Reinforced with Spherical Fillers

by Julio Cesar Martinez-Garcia, Alexandre Serraïma-Ferrer, Aitor Lopeandía-Fernández, Marco Lattuada, Janak Sapkota and Javier Rodríguez-Viejo

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(4), 830; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11040830 - 24 Mar 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2864

Abstract

In this work, the effective mechanical reinforcement of polymeric nanocomposites containing spherical particle fillers is predicted based on a generalized analytical three-phase-series-parallel model, considering the concepts of percolation and the interfacial glassy region. While the concept of percolation is solely taken as a contribution of the filler-network, we herein show that the glassy interphase between filler and matrix, which is often in the nanometers range, is also to be considered while interpreting enhanced mechanical properties of particulate filled polymeric nanocomposites. To demonstrate the relevance of the proposed generalized equation, we have fitted several experimental results which show a good agreement with theoretical predictions. Thus, the approach presented here can be valuable to elucidate new possible conceptual routes for the creation of new materials with fundamental technological applications and can open a new research avenue for future studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Nanocomposites: Preparation, Characterisation and Applications)

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14 pages, 40001 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Polyurethane Foams Loaded with Carbon Nanofibers for Oil Spill Recovery: Mechanical Properties under Fatigue Conditions and Selective Absorption in Oil/Water Mixtures

by Annamaria Visco, Antonino Quattrocchi, Davide Nocita, Roberto Montanini and Alessandro Pistone

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(3), 735; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11030735 - 15 Mar 2021

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 3785

Abstract

Marine pollution due to spillage of hydrocarbons represents a well-known current environmental problem. In order to recover the otherwise wasted oils and to prevent pollution damage, polyurethane foams are considered suitable materials for their ability to separate oils from sea-water and for their reusability. In this work we studied polyurethane foams filled with carbon nanofibers, in varying amounts, aimed at enhancing the selectivity of the material towards the oils and at improving the mechanical durability of the foam. Polyurethane-based foams were experimentally characterized by morphological, surface, and mechanical analyses (optical microscopy observation, contact angle measurement, absorption test according to ASTM F726-99 standard and compression fatigue tests according to ISO 24999 standard). Results indicated an increase in hydrophobic behavior and a good oleophilic character of the composite sponges besides an improved selective absorption of the foam toward oils in mixed water/oil media. The optimal filler amount was found to be around 1 wt% for the homogeneous distribution inside the polymeric foam. Finally, the fatigue test results showed an improvement of the mechanical properties of the foam with the growing carbon filler amount. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Nanocomposites: Preparation, Characterisation and Applications)

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Review

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27 pages, 6002 KiB

Open AccessReview

Dispersion State and Damage of Carbon Nanotubes and Carbon Nanofibers by Ultrasonic Dispersion: A Review

by Harald Rennhofer and Benjamin Zanghellini

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(6), 1469; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11061469 - 1 Jun 2021

Cited by 65 | Viewed by 5131

Abstract

Dispersion of carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibers is a crucial processing step in the production of polymer-based nanocomposites and poses a great challenge due to the tendency of these nanofillers to agglomerate. Besides the well-established three-roll mill, the ultrasonic dispersion process is one of the most often used methods. It is fast, easy to implement, and obtains considerably good results. Nevertheless, damage to the nanofibers due to cavitation may lead to shortening and changes in the surface of the nanofillers. The proper application of the sonicator to limit damage and at the same time enable high dispersion quality needs dedicated knowledge of the damage mechanisms and characterization methods for monitoring nano-particles during and after sonication. This study gives an overview of these methods and indicates parameters to be considered in this respect. Sonication energy rather than sonication time is a key factor to control shortening. It seems likely that lower powers that are induced by a broader tip or plate sonicators at a longer running time would allow for proper dispersions, while minimizing damage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Nanocomposites: Preparation, Characterisation and Applications)

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