Polymer Nanocomposites and their Structure and Properties. A Review

Abstract

This paper presents a review of the literature on polymer nanocomposites and their properties and structure. Different types of nanofiller and the properties of composites based on them are examined. Also, the principal problems associated with the creation of materials of this kind are set out – uniform distribution of the nanofiller in the polymer matrix and the guarantee of effective load transfer from matrix to filler. The current main methods for uniform dispersion of nanofillers in the polymer matrix are described: selection of the optimum mixing conditions, in situ polymerisation, and chemical modification of nanofiller particles.