Review of polymer-organoclay nanocomposites

Abstract

This study focuses on polymer nanocomposites and their syntheses, properties and future applications, several of these applications will be successful in the near future. Polymer-Layered Silicate Nanocomposites (PLSN's) have been widely studied as property enhancers for thermoplastic materials due to their ability to improve mechanical, thermal, flame resistance and barrier properties of thermoplastics. Due to this property enhancement at low filler content (2-6 wt. %), PLSN systems have drawn tremendous attention. In the present review, a brief overview of history and some commercial applications of nanocomposites, importance of polyolefin's and the development of polyolefin-nanocomposites, techniques used for the synthesis of nanocomposites, techniques used for the characterization of nanocomposites, factors affecting the dispersion of clay and the effects of dispersion on the properties of the nanocomposites, importance for considering orientation along with the dispersion of clay and relation between rheology and the orientation of clay platelets in the polymer matrix of the nanocomposites, is discussed. ©2008 Asian Network for Scientific Information.