Abstract
One of the main issues in the production of polymer nanocomposites is the dispersion state of filler as multilayered graphene (MLG) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) tend to agglomerate due to van der Waals forces. The agglomeration can be avoided by using organic solvents, selecting suitable dispersion and production methods, and functionalizing the fillers. Another proposed method is the use of hybrid fillers as synergistic effects can cause an improvement in the dispersion state of the fillers. In this review article, various aspects of each process that can help avoid filler agglomeration and improve dispersion state are discussed in detail. This review article would be helpful for both current and prospective researchers in the field of MLG- and CNT-based polymer nanocomposites to achieve maximum enhancement in mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of produced polymer nanocomposites.
Highlights
It has been well known for about hundred years that the addition of nano-fillers to polymers, polymer glasses, and semicrystalline polymers can remarkably improve the performance of polymers [1]
Yan et al modified singlewalled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) with surfactants Volan and BYK-9076 to improve the dispersion state in the polymer matrix [125]. They incorporated the treated SWNTs as secondary reinforcement in glass fiber reinforced epoxy and reported an increase in flexural strength of up to 16%, which can be attributed to the improved dispersion state, absence of agglomerates, and strong interfacial interactions
Drying in a vacuum oven for 24 h bath sonication of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with TETA in excess amount (60 °C, 30 min) results in –COOH groups attached to the CNT surfaces filtration removal of untreated amine by washing with acetone to produce multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) with very few defects [2] and the production of large quantities is possible at low cost [127]
Summary
It has been well known for about hundred years that the addition of nano-fillers to polymers, polymer glasses, and semicrystalline polymers can remarkably improve the performance of polymers [1]. There are not many industrial applications of graphene, it is widely used for research purposes, e.g., as reinforcement in polymer matrix composites (PMC) and has shown to yield significant improvements in different (mechanical, thermal, and electrical) properties of the produced nanocomposites [6,7,8,9]. Calendering is an efficient way to disperse the reinforcement into the polymer matrix due to the high shear forces, the improvement in K1C was reported to be only 86% [79], which is far below the maximum achieved with a combination of sonication and mechanical stirring.
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