Polymer/Clay Nanocomposites

Abstract

Nowadays the enormous use of polymer materials is attributed to their extraordinary combination of properties, low weight and ease of processing. However for improvement of some properties such as thermal and mechanical stability, large numbers of additives were added to polymeric matrix and formed polymer matrix composite [1, 2]. A composite is defined as a combination of two or more materials with different physical and chemical properties and distinguishable interface. Composite materials have a wonderful and different range of applications. Important advantages of composites over many metal compounds are high specific stiffness and specific strength, high toughness, corrosion resistance, low density and thermal insulation [1-3]. In most composite materials, one phase is usually continuous and called the matrix, while the other phase called the dispersed phase. On the basis of the nature of the matrices, composites can be classified into four major categories: 1. Polymer matrix composite 2. Metal matrix composite 3. Ceramic matrix composite 4. Carbon matrix composite [4]. Polymer matrix composite can be processed at a much lower temperature, compared to other composite. Depending on the types of polymer matrices, polymer matrix composite are classified as thermosetting composites and thermoplastic composites [4].