Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Hybrid Polymer Materials and Composites

Abstract

The fabrication of polymer–inorganic hybrid materials and composites under microwave irradiation benefits from a number of advantages such as reduction in processing time, more uniform heating of materials (i.e., reduced thermal gradient), faster curing of resins, and more efficient crosslinking of composite materials. For polymer hybrid materials, the advantages of microwave-assisted synthesis include smaller particle size, narrower particle size distribution, greater particle density, and higher exfoliation degree, which substantially improve the performance of the final material. A decrease in size of the various components is one of the cornerstones of the push towards improvements in electronic and optical devices, drug delivery, medical scaffolds, biosensors, imaging agents, and analytical technology. This chapter discusses recently published reports on the preparation and characterization of composite materials and polymer hybrids obtained under microwave irradiation using various types of polymer matrix and resins together with inorganic materials such as glass and carbon fibers, carbon black, layered materials (e.g., clays and double hydroxides), metal nanoparticles and nanowires, as well as carbon-based materials (e.g., fullerenes and nanotubes). A survey of past achievements in the preparation of polymer–inorganic hybrid nanocomposites under microwave irradiation can be found in a previously published review paper (Bogdal et al., Curr Org Chem 15:1782, 2011).