Nanoparticle structural organisation and scaffolding in organic media

Abstract

To create advanced nano-structured materials and fluid media with unique tailored properties, it is often necessary to form nanocomposites or nano-dispersions, which may include homogenous and heterogeneous mixtures of nanoparticles dispersed in a matrix or medium of another compound such as a polymer. Recent and ongoing research on polymer/inorganic nanocomposites has shown dramatic improvement of the performance properties, such as stiffness, strength, electrical, optical and thermal properties over those of unfilled polymers, without compromising their possibility (Becker et al. in Polymer 43:4365–4373, 2002; Alexandre and Dubois in Mater Sci Eng R Rep 28(1–2):1–63, 2000; Arias et al. in Polymer 44:1537–1546, 2003). The aim of this study was to examine the structuring of nanoparticles within liquid based epoxy resins and their ability to form clusters and scaffolds in which the nanoparticles form a network with potentially interesting end properties. In particular, we considered nano-cluster formation and growth as function of the dispersion and concentration.