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In the last ten years, the use of nanoparticles to enhance polymer performance has drawn a great deal of research
interest. This is because of the significant property enhancement that is made possible with the addition of a small
amount of nanoparticles. When compared with traditional filler materials, nanocomposites could offer enhanced
physical features--such as increased stiffness, strength, barrier properties, and heat resistance, without loss of impact
strength and with improved aesthetics--in a very broad range of common thermoplastics and thermosets. Further,
since the particle sizes are on the order of the wavelengths of visible light, they do not change optical properties
such as transparency.
Although there have been a number of technology challenges that have been associated with
nanocomposite development such as inconsistent performance replication, degree of exfoliation, and agglomeration,
there has been tremendous research in these areas over the past few years to overcome these limitations. For
instance, Hightstown, NJ-based Elementis Specialties is currently developing an analytical infrared (IR) method to
measure the degree of exfoliation using a quantitative approach that provides information on the number of clay
layers that have been exfoliated in the bulk composite.
What has been observed in this field is that many of the above mentioned technical challenges have been present for
the past five years. One would expect some of these to have been overcome in this time period. However, although
there appears to be a lot of research activity in this domain, the existing technical barriers must be overcome before
mass commercialization.
There is a need to address certain health and safety issues associated with nanomaterials. Researchers opine that
most of the commonly researched nanocomposite materials do not require special consideration from an
environmental or regulatory point of view when compared with other polymer materials already in the market. In terms
of health and safety issues, they say, the fillers present as layered agglomerate do not represent any special hazard
and need only be handled in the same manner as any powder. However, the health and safety issues related to CNTs
and some newer metal-polymer nanocomposites would require special attention due to the hazards they could
present to humans. There have been no health reviews at this juncture for these materials and this is something that
must be addressed in the near future.
Companies working in this domain are aware of the fact that nanomaterials may
be considered hazardous to the environment, and the health and safety of humans, and therefore they are actively
involved in research to better understand any possible adverse effects of the use of nanomaterials in products and
their handling in the workplace. To ensure that nanomaterials pose no risk to humans and the environment when
used in chemical materials --thirteen companies, universities, and research institutes are contributing their expertise to
the NanoCare research project. This project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and
is aimed at enhancing the scientific analysis of nanomaterials.
Further, several large applications are on the brink of commercialization. The nanocomposite landscape is expected to
grow significantly in the span of one or two years. Once this happens, investment in larger scale production and the
involvement of larger companies are expected to bring down the high costs associated with some types of
nanofillers. Most industry participants are unanimous in their opinion that the important thing in this field is that the
material provides the necessary properties at the right cost in its final application. The nano prefix, they stressed,
should count for very little.
Download Full Summary Here
Published: Oct 2006
For more information about "Advances in Polymer Nanocomposites"
Conact: Trisha.Bradley@frost.com
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