This Research on polymeric materials was widely focused on the development of polymer nano composites with various nano fillers during the last decades. In this context, the present lecture gives an overview on recent developments on halloy site nano tubes reinforced nano composites, including the processing, characterization and potential applications in industry. The naturally derived nano tubular halloysites represent a distinctive class of nanofiller for industrially significant polymers. Usage of such natural nanotubes not only enhances the material properties but also improves the sustainability and environmental impact of the manufactured products. Additionally, HNTs are biocompatible, and find various applications in biomedical field. In the present work, environmentally friendly HNTs were introduced into various thermoplastics such as polypropylene, polyamide-66, bio based polyamide 11 and thermoplastic starch matrices to generate novel nano composite materials through an advantageous melt-processing method. The effects of HNTs content on the structural, optical, thermal, mechanical, viscoelastic and dielectic properties were investigated. The incorporation of HNTs generates notable performance enhancements through reinforcement effects, highly efficient nucleation activity. In particular, compared to other nano fillers such as nano clays and carbon nanotubes, excellent mechanical properties have been observed (and especially a unique combination of strength, rigidity and ductility). A focus will also be made on the tuning of structural and mechanical properties of the thermoplastic starch through residence time, addition of different combinations of plasticizers and HNTs content. Finally, strategy of preparing conducting composite via the addition of polyaniline functionalized halloy site nano tubes into polymer matrix are presented in order to enhance the application of halloy site nano tubes. Such HNTs filled nano composites can provide an effective balance between performance, cost effectiveness and easy processing, and should be of great interest in the area of multifunctional polymer nano composite materials. Polymer nanocomposites are new class of materials that are filled with nanofillers, and which usually exhibit exceptionally superior thermomechanical performance and physical properties at very lower filler loadings compared to conventional polymer composites [1]. Improvements in mechanical properties, such as stiffness and toughness, electrical, dimensional stability, barrier and thermal properties as well as fire retardant enhancements, with respect to the bulk polymer, are usually observed. The interfacial interactions and degree of dispersion state of fillers in polymer matrix is important in determining the final performance of polymer nanocomposites [2]. manuscripts Halloysite nanotubes have recently become the subject of research attention as a new type of additive for enhancing the mechanical, thermal and fire-retardant performance of polymers [3] Halloysite is mainly composed of aluminosilicate and has a predominantly hollow tubular structure with the chemical composition Al2(OH)4Si2O5(2H2O). It is a weathering product of volcanic rocks of rhyolitic up to granitic composition and occurs in great deposits. Common halloysites can be found in form of fine, tubular structures with a length of 300~1500 nm in length and inner diameter and outer diameters being 15-100 nm and 40-120 nm, respectively. Even if the usage of a silica based, natural occurring nanotube as reinforcing material for polymers is still new, HNTs are considered as the ideal materials for preparing polymer
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Jul 2, 2015
Liutao Yang + 6
Open Access