4 - Mechanical properties of nanoparticle-based polymer composites

Abstract

Nanoparticles gained significant attention in material science and played a crucial role in developing advanced technologies in the last three decades. Nowadays, nanoparticles are often preferred in cutting-edge engineering applications, including but not limited to electronics, thermal, biomedical, energy, structural technologies due to their superior features. Among these developments, nanoparticle modification opened a new era for improving the mechanical properties of polymers. So far, various nanoparticles, such as carbon allotropes, silica, ceramics, and metals, were synthesized and successfully used to reinforce and improve polymers’ mechanical behavior. The large surface area-to-volume ratio and high-specific stiffness of nanoparticles play an important role in enhancing polymer composite’s mechanical properties by forming excellent interfacial adhesion. In this regard, the nanoparticle-based polymer composites and their micromechanical behavior were detailed in this study. Furthermore, the effect of nanoparticle reinforcement on polymer composite’s mechanical characteristics was summarized by using the modified Halpin-Tsai model. The various nanoparticle-based polymers composites’ mechanical behavior was discussed, and recent developments on the structures and mechanical properties were reviewed in this chapter.