Processing of nanostructured polymers and advanced polymeric based nanocomposites

Published Date
November 2014, Vol.85:1–46, doi:10.1016/j.mser.2014.08.002

Title 

Processing of nanostructured polymers and advanced polymeric based nanocomposites

• Author 

• Laura Peponi ^b,,
• Debora Puglia ^a
• Luigi Torre ^a
• Luca Valentini ^a
• José M. Kenny ^a,b,c,,

• aMaterials Science and Technology Centre, University of Perugia, Loc. Pentima, 4, 05100 Terni, Italy
• bInstitute of Polymer Science and Technology, ICTP-CSIC, Juan de la Cierva, 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
• cInstitute of Macromolecular Compounds of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Bolshoy pr. 31, 199004 Saint-Petersburg, Russia

Available online 14 September 2014. Guiding Editor: Philippe Dubois

Abstract

The control of the nanostructure and the addition of nanoparticles to polymers have led to structural and functional property enhancements in a number of polymeric systems as a material answer to continuous requirements from advanced industrial sectors. The availability of new nanoparticles with extraordinary properties (i.e. carbon nanotubes, graphenes, but also nanoclays, nanocellulose, metals and ceramics) have determined new and exciting possibilities for a continuous enlargement of polymer markets. However, the potentialities of these new materials are still strongly dependent on the development and scaling-up of reliable processing routes. Therefore, the purpose of this report is to review the main processing approaches for nanostructured polymers and nanocomposites starting with a brief review of available nanoparticles and on their functionalization to promote a better polymer–particle interaction. Regarding processing, the review firstly addresses the bottom-up approaches typically adopted for nanostructured polymers, blends and copolymers. Then, the different technologies required by the top-down processing of thermoplastic and thermosetting polymer matrix systems are reviewed. Finally, the report addresses the recent applications of nanostructured polymers and nanocomposites as matrices of advanced composite materials. In all cases, the main processing approaches and the main structural and functional properties characterizing these materials and their potential and current industrial applications are specifically addressed.

Keywords

Nanostructured polymers

Nanocomposites

Block copolymers

Processing

Carbon nanotubes

Graphene

Nanocellulose

Abbreviations and symbols

AFM, atomic force microscopy

APTS, aminopropyltriethoxylsilane

ATRP, atom transfer radical polymerization

BC, block copolymer

BCC, body-centered cubic structure

BGY, Born–Green–Yvon theory

CEC, cation exchange capacity

CNC, cellulose nanocrystal

CNF, cellulose nanofibril

CNS, cellulose nanostructure

CNT, carbon nanotube

CNW, cellulose nanowhisker

CCVD, catalytic chemical vapor deposition

CVD, chemical vapor deposition

DDM, diaminodiphenyl methane

DDS, 4,4-diaminodiphenylsulfone

DETA, diethylenetriamine

DGEBA, diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A

DMF, dimethylformamide

DPD, dissipative particle dynamics

DT, dodecanethiol

DTA, dodecyltrimethylammonium

E, Young's modulus

EFM, electrostatic force microscopy

FITC, fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate

FRP, fiber reinforced polymer

FTIR, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

GFET, graphene field-effect transistor

GFRP, glass fiber reinforced polymer

GNP, graphite nanoplatelet

GO, graphene oxide

GONP, oxidized graphite nanoplatelet

GRAPOSS, graphene-POSS hybrid

HDT, heat distortion temperature

HEX, hexagonal microphase (cylinders)

HRR, heat release rate

ISO, International Organization for Standardization

ITO, indium tin oxide

kB, Boltzmann constant

LAM, lamellar morphology

MCDEA, 4,4′-methylene bis (3 chloro 2,6 diethylaniline)

MFC, microfibrillated cellulose

MMT, montmorillonite

MWCNT, multiwall carbon nanotube

N, degree of polymerization

NMP, N-methyl pyrrolidone

NP, nanoparticle

PB, polybutadiene

PBT, poly(butylene terephthalate)

PCL, poly(ɛ-caprolactone)

PDMS, polydimethylsiloxane

PE, polyethylene

PEDOT, poly(3,4-ethyldioxythiophene)

PEE, poly(phenylene ether)

PEI, poly(ethylene imine)

PEO, poly(ethylene oxide)

PEP, poly(ethylene-alt-propylene)

PLA, polylactide

PLLA, poly(l-lactide)

PMMA, poly(methyl methacrylate)

POSS, polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane

PPE, poly(phenylene ether)

PPO, poly(propylene oxide)

PPy, polypyrrole

PS, polystyrene

PSS, poly(styrene sulfonic acid)

PTMO, poly(tetramethylene oxide)

PU, polyurethane

PVA, poly(vinyl acetate)

PVCH, poly(vinyl cyclohexane)

P3HT, poly(3-hexylthiophene)

rGO, reduced graphene oxide

RIFT, resin infusion under flexible tool

ROP, ring-opening polymerization

Rs, surface resistivity

RTM, resin transfer molding

SAXS, small angle X-ray scattering

SBM, poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-methyl methacrylate)

SBS, poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene)

SCRIMP, Seemann^®composites resin infusion molding process

SEBS, poly(styrene-b-ethylene-co-butylene-b-styrene)

SEM, scanning electron microscopy

SIBS, poly(styrene-b-isobutylene-b-styrene)

SIS, poly(styrene-b-isoprene-b-styrene)

SMMA, styrene-b-(methyl methacrylate)

SWCNT, single walled carbon nanotube

T, temperature

TEMPO, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl

Tg, glass transition temperature

TGA, thermo gravimetric analysis

TGDDM, tetraglycidyl-4,4-diaminodiphenylmethane

TEM, transmission electron microscopy

TPE, thermoplastic elastomer

TPU, thermoplastic polyurethane

TRG, thermal reduced graphene

UV, ultraviolet

UV–vis, ultraviolet–visible

VARIM, vacuum assisted resin infusion method

VARTM, vacuum assisted resin transfer molding

wAB, interaction energy between monomers A and B

XRD, X-ray diffraction

Z, number of the nearest neighbors of the copolymer configurational cell

ϕ_A, volume fraction of component A

χ, Flory–Huggins interaction parameter

σ, tensile strength

0D, zero-dimensional

1D, one-dimensional

2D, two-dimensional

3D, three-dimensional

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 Table 1

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 Table 2

Table 2.

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  Corresponding authors at: Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Polímeros, ICTP-CSIC, C/Juan de la Cierva, 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain. Tel.: +34 912587424; fax: +34 915644853.

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