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Everyday Life Applications of Polymer Nanocomposites

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Everyday Life Applications of

Polymer Nanocomposites
Constantinos G. Delides1
1Dept.of Pollution Control Technologies, Technological Education Institute of
Western Macedonia, 50100 Kila, Kozani, Greece, Tel: 2106526077,
E-mail: kdelidis@gmail.com
Abstract

Polymer nanocomposites (PNC) have attracted significant research and

industrial interests due to their promising potential for versatile applications
ranging from packaging, remediation, energy storage, electromagnetic (EM)
absorption, sensing and actuation, transportation and safety, defense
systems, thermal flow control, information industry, to novel catalysts,
cosmetics, sports, etc. PNC consist of a polymer or copolymer having
nanoparticles or nanofillers dispersed in the polymer matrix. These may be of
different shape, structure and geometry (e.g., platelets, fibers, spheroids), but
at least one dimension must be in the range of 1–100 nm. They exhibit unique
physicochemical properties that cannot be obtained with individual
components acting alone. For any particular application a group of properties
should be considered.
This review paper mainly focuses on the most recent advances in polymer
nanocomposites for everyday life applications, practically important and
extremely useful. The applications of PNC are endless and still increasing
rapidly due to their below average cost and ease of manufacture. They make
our lives more convenient and enjoyable.

Keywords: Polymer nanocomposites, transportation, cosmetics.

1. Introduction

Polymers have limited use for the manufacture of goods and structures on
their own, since their properties are not very high when compared to other
materials, for example, most metals. Their properties can be improved when
the polymer system (matrix) is combined with reinforcing material (filler),
producing that way a composite. In connection to matrix properties, the
properties of the composite are strongly depended on the filler characteristics
among which the size of the filler plays dominant role. Polymer composites
with the size of the filler in the nanoscale regime generates the polymer
nanocomposites (PNC) and the related technology the nanotechnology [1-15].
The area of nanotechnology has been a very hot topic and it has the potential
to make our lives better and to make the world a better place to live in [11].
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Nanotechnology refers to the research and development of materials that

contain structures or features that have at least one length scale ranging from
molecular to approximately 100 nm or even in the broader range of 1-400 nm,
which exhibit improved or novel properties that are the direct result of their
small size. These novel properties result from the tremendous amount of
surface area that can occur between phases and/or confinement effects.
Globally, in addition to the traditionally used microfillers, nanofillers has also
been of tremendous academic and industrial interest. Depending on the
combination of matrix-nanofiller a variety of PNC can be produced even on
demand. During recent years, these nanocomposites have generated much
research interest owing to remarkable enhancements in the various
composite properties at very low cost and thereby entered in our everyday life
[11]. The polymer/nanofiller compatability leads to synergistic improvements
in the composite properties, where the achieved properties are superior to
those of the individual components. In this paper we focus our attention on the
most recent advances in polymer nanocomposites for everyday life
applications and the special characteristics of the PNC components.
2. Polymer matrices and fillers

The polymer matrix system can be a thermoplastic, thermoset, or elastomer.

2.1 Thermoplastics

A thermoplastic polymer will soften when heated above the glass transition
temperature (Tg) and thus can be moulded into a particular shape upon
cooling.
This process is repeatable, which makes thermoplastic materials
reprocessable and recyclable.

2.2 Thermosets

Thermosetting plastics are polymer materials which are liquid or malleable at

low temperatures, but which change irreversibly into an infusible, insoluble
polymer network by curing. Curing is induced by the action of curing agent
and heat or suitable radiation, often under high pressure. Thermosetting
materials become permanently hard through cross-linking when heated
above Tg. Thus thermosetting polymers cannot be molded by softening.
Instead, they must be fabricated during the crosslinking process.

2.3 Elastomers

Elastomer resins are lightly crosslinked polymer systems and have properties
that lie between thermosets and thermoplastics.

2.4 Reinforcing phase

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The nanoscale reinforcing phase can be grouped into three categories,

namely, nanoparticles (0-D), nanotubes (1-D), and nanoplates (2-D).In the
case of nanoparticles, the particle size and distribution are of great
importance. The physical properties of PNC are strongly depended on filler
content, size, shape and geometry, varying dispersibility, aspect ratio, specific
surface area and the filler functionalization.

3. Polymer/ nanoplates composites

Different types of fillers are utilized, the most common is a nanoclay material
called montmorillonite. Clays, in a natural state, are hydrophilic while polymers
are hydrophobic. To make the two compatible, the clay’s polarity must be
modified to be more “organic” to interact successfully with polymers. Additional
nanofillers include carbon nanotubes, graphite platelets, carbon nanofibers, as
well as other fillers being investigated such as synthetic clays, natural fibers
(hemp or flax), and POSS (polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane). Carbon
nanotubes, offer superb electrical and thermal conductivity properties.
Figure 1 illustrates two ways that polymer can access the surface of all or
most of these plates in such clays (a) and Carbon nanotubes (b) into a semi
crystalline matrix. In intercalated nanocomposites, the polymer enters the
gallery between the layers of clay and the clay layers maintain their
registration and the increase in spacing between. In exfoliated
nanocomposites, individual clay plates become dispersed in the polymer.
Polymer chain conformation and mobility are changed at this interface.
Polymer chains interact with the clay surface. Giannelis and coworkers
proposed that chains close to the clay interface have lower free volume than
the bulk polymer, and those away from the clay interface have higher free
volume than the bulk polymer [12].

Figure 1. (a) Polymer/Clay Nanocomposite and (b) Carbon nanotubes into a semi crystalline
matrix.

4. Applications
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It is impossible to cover all the PNC applications, so a few only examples are
presented below. Some application groups of PNC are shown in the following
Figure 2.

Figure 2: PNC application areas

4.1 Food and beverage packaging and safety (barrier materials, antimicrobials
and sensors)

Barrier properties result from the plate-like nature of the nanofiller (mostly
clays). Their high aspect ratio (typically 100-500 for montmorillonite) creates a
"tortuous path" for materials passing through the composite and tremendously
improve the barrier properties of the packaging materials [1, 2].

4.2 Transportation and safety

Weight reduction, high corrosion resistance and its resistance to damage from
fatigue are the greatest advantages of composite material usage in decisions
regarding its selection. These factors play a key role in reducing operating
costs of transportation (ground, underground aircraft and space industry).
Nowadays, it is impossible to imagine the existence of any moving vehicle
without the presence of a polymer composite [3].

4.3 Tissue engineering

This is mainly concerned with the replacement of tissues which have been
destroyed by sickness or accidents or other artificial means. The examples
are skin, bone, cartilage, blood vessels and may be even organs. This
technique involves providing a scaffold on which cells are added and the
scaffold should provide favorable conditions for the growth of the same.
Nanofibres have been found to provide very good conditions for the growth of
such cells, one of the reasons being that fibrillar structures can be found on
many tissues which allow the cells to attach strongly to the fibers and grow
along them [4-6].
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4.4 Environmental protection

Environmental protection is getting day by day more and more problematic of

global society. Generally, some of the main points that should be considered
are: Pollutant removal (e.g., filtration, absorption by activated carbon),
reduction in amount of pollutant generated (e.g., use of biodegredable
polymers, recycling and electronic pollution control.

4.5 UV protection, cosmetics, clothing and sports

Natural sunscreens rely upon the use of physical sunscreen filters such as
zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. They work by sitting on top of the skin and
providing a barrier against UV rays, deflecting them away from the skin and
preventing any harm and used in: glasses, goggles, swimwear, sunglasses,
bags, tape, wear, clothing, etc. Chemical sun filtering agents, on the other
hand, work by being absorbed into the skin’s top layer and deflecting UV rays
or absorbing their energy and converting them into something harmless. UV
protection of polyamide fabrics with polymeric nanocomposites are
extensively used. Sun protective textiles are highly important regarding health
problems, not only for children, but also for people who spend a lot of time
outdoors in their line of work. ZnO, Al2O3, SiO2 and TiO2 nanoparticles, are
dispersed with different concentrations. Nanotechnology have also been
wildly applied in cosmetics and sports engineering, such as sports stadiums,
field turf, racks, sports-wear, equipment and supplement [7,8]. This may
greatly change the present situation of sports and promote the advance of
athletic sports, creating a lot of opportunity for the increase of the record of
athletic sports [8, 9].

4.6 Solar energy production and energy storage

PNC solar cell is a promising photovoltaic technology [10, 13]. PNC solar cells
utilize the high electron mobility inorganic phase to overcome charge-
transport limitations associated with organic materials. Poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-
ethylhexyloxy-p-phenylenevinylene)]/ZnO nanorod PNC solar cells consisting
of PbS quantum dots [QDs] prepared by a chemical bath deposition method
QDs on the ZnO nanorods strongly improves the performance of the solar
cells. Zinc oxide [ZnO] has been regarded as an excellent semiconductor
material for the solar cell due to its high electron mobility as well as the high
chemical and thermal stability [13].The undeniable importance of electric
energy is related to the need of better storage. Multifunctional polymer
nanocomposites could be exploited as structural energy storing devices
(batteries etc.), where matrix and filler synergistically undertake the roles of
structural support and energy storage [10].

4.7 EMI shielding

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Metals are well suited for many EMI shielding applications. However, metals
have their own shortcomings like weight, susceptibility to corrosion, wear, and
physical rigidity. The conductive particle filled polymer-matrix composites
have advantages like low weight, resistance to corrosion, ease of processing
and tailored coefficient of thermal expansion. In particular, polymer
composites containing carbon-based fillers (e.g., graphite, carbon black,
carbon fibers, carbon nanofibers, carbon nanotubes) are extensively used as
EMI shielding owing to their unique combination of electrical conduction,
flexibility, and light weight [14]. The importance of EMI shielding in three
distinguished cases are presented in Figures 3, 4 and 5.

Shielded Building, Rooms & Cabinets

Figure 3: Three tiers of shielding: shielded building, shielded room and shielded
cabinet or box.

TV protection

Figure 4: Plasma display panel (PDP) requires an EMI shielding film layer to function reliably.

Smart phones

Cell phones emit low frequency magnetic fields that can measured in
milliGauss and high frequency microwave radiation. Shielding products for
BOTH magnetic fields and microwaves for cell phones are exist in the market
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and they extensively used. Most should be flexible, light, environmentally

friendly, easy to manufacture and chip to produce. PNC are ideal material for
this application, since they can feel all the requirement needed. The emission
of radiation and some of the most used products are shown in the next Figure
5.

Figure 5: Cell phone radiation, mobile phone pod and BlocSockLite

4.8 Market of polymer nanocomposites

The growth of the nanocomposites market is significantly higher than that of

conventional polymers; the market volume in 2018 will be 3.5–5 times higher
than the figures achieved in 2010 (Figure 6) [15].

Figure 6: The growth of the nanocomposites market.

PNC based on carbon nanofillers, especially on carbon nanotubes are now

days in fashion. Currently the share of nanocomposites produced by using
carbon nanotubes does not exceed 10%. However, in the next 5 years the
consumption of carbon nanotubes for the production of nanocomposite
materials will significantly increase in volume. By the year of 2020 the market
of carbon nanotubes will grow more than 7 times, as compared to the
indicators of 2013. Worldwide more than 53 million tons of fillers with a total
sum of approximately EUR16 billion are used every year in different
application areas, such as paper, plastics, rubber, paints, coatings, adhesives
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and sealants. As such, fillers, produced by more than 700 companies, rank
among the world's major raw materials and are contained in a variety of goods
for daily consumer needs [15, 16].

5. Conclusions

The applications of PNC are endless and still increasing rapidly due mainly to
their unique properties, below average cost and ease of manufacture. They
make our lives more convenient and enjoyable.

Acknowledgements

Warm thanks are expressed to all my coliques working with me for many
decays from many universities and research centres.

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