A one-stop resource for researchers and developers alike, this book covers a plethora of nanocomposite properties and their enhancement mechanisms. With contributors from industry as well as academia, each chapter elucidates in detail the mechanisms to achieve a certain functionality of the polymer nanocomposite, such as improved biodegradability, increased chemical resistance and tribological performance. Special emphasis is laid on the interdependence of the factors that affect the nanocomposite properties such that readers obtain the information necessary to synthesize the polymer materials according to the requirements of their respective applications.

Vikas Mittal is a polymer engineer at BASF Polymer Research in Ludwigshafen, Germany. He obtained his PhD in 2006 in Polymer and Materials Engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland. Later, he worked as a Materials Scientist in the Active and Intelligent Coatings section of SunChemical in London, UK. His research interests include polymer nanocomposites, novel filler surface modifications, thermal stability enhancements, polymer latexes with functionalized surfaces etc. He has authored over 40 scientific publications, book chapters and patents on these subjects.

Preface POLYMER NANOCOMPOSITES: SYNTHESIS, MICROSTRUCTURE, AND PROPERTIES Introduction Means of Synthesis and Microstructure Importance of Thermogravimetric Analysis and X-Ray Diffraction for Filler and Nanocomposite Microstructure Characterization Polar and Nonpolar Polymer Systems Advances in Filler Surface Modifications Prediction of Composite Properties MORPHOLOGY DEVELOPMENT IN THERMOSET NANOCOMPOSITES Introduction Epoxy Nanocomposite Systems Effects of Processing and Aging Other Thermoset Nanocomposite Systems Recent Advances in Thermoset Nanocomposites Summary MORPHOLOGY AND INTERFACE DEVELOPMENT IN RUBBER-CLAY NANOCOMPOSITES Introduction Melt Compounding MORPHOLOGY DEVELOPMENT IN POLYOLEFIN NANOCOMPOSITES Introduction Intercalation, Exfoliation, and Dispersion of MMT Crystallization and Crystalline Structure of Matrix Polymers Morphology Development in Processing Conclusions RHEOLOGICAL BEHAVIOR OF POLYMER NANOCOMPOSITES Introduction Rheological Behavior of Polymer Nanocomposites in Solution State Rheological Behavior of Polymer Nanocomposites in Melt State Conclusions MECHANICAL PROPERTY ENHANCEMENT OF POLYMER NANOCOMPOSITES Introduction Material Stiffness Ultimate Mechanical Properties Conclusions STRESS TRANSFER AND FRACTURE MECHANISMS IN CARBON NANOTUBE-REINFORCED POLYMER NANOCOMPOSITES Introduction Experimental Studies Mechanical Behavior of Polymer Nanocomposites and Stress Transfer Fracture Mechanics of CNT-Polymer Nanocomposites Concluding Remarks BARRIER RESISTANCE GENERATION IN POLYMER NANOCOMPOSITES Introduction Theory of Permeation Barrier Generation in Polar Nanocomposites Barrier Generation in Nonpolar Nanocomposites Modeling of Barrier Properties of Composites MECHANISMS OF THERMAL STABILITY ENHANCEMENT IN POLYMER NANOCOMPOSITES Introduction The Mechanisms of Thermal Stability Improvement by Different Nanofillers Concluding Remarks MECHANISMS OF TRIBOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN POLYMER NANOCOMPOSITES Introduction Nanoparticle Reinforcements Carbon Nanotubes Synthetic Roles of Nanoparticles with Traditional Fillers MECHANISMS OF BIODEGRADABILITY GENERATION IN POLYMER NANOCOMPOSITES Introduction PBAT Nanocomposites PBS Nanocomposites Conclusions SELF-HEALING IN Nanoparticle-Reinforced Polymers and other Polymer Systems Introduction Microstructured Self-Healing Polymer Structures Nanoparticle-Reinforced Self-Healing Polymers Systems Concluding Remarks CRYSTALLIZATION IN POLYMER NANOCOMPOSITES Introduction Nanofillers Isothermal and Nonisothermal Crystallization in Polymers Conclusions PREDICTION OF THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF NANOCOMPOSITES Introduction Analytical and Numerical Techniques Prediction of Nanocomposite Properties Conclusions MORPHOLOGY GENERATION IN POLYMER NANOCOMPOSITES USING VARIOUS LAYERED SILICATES Introduction Aspects of Layered Silicates Conventional Layered Silicate Polymer Nanocomposites using Smectite and Expandable Synthetic Fluoro-Mica Aspect Ratio Variation using Various Layered Silicates Summary THERMOMECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF NANOCOMPOSITES Introduction Thermomechanical Analysis Dynamic Mechanical Analysis and the Principle of Time-Temperature Superposition Nanoclays and Their Influence on the Thermomechanical Properties of Polymer Composites: Some Case Studies Conclusions EFFECT OF PROCESSING CONDITIONS ON THE MORPHOLOGY AND PROPERTIES OF POLYMER NANOCOMPOSITES Introduction Melt-Intercalation of Polymer Nanocomposite Systems Solution-Intercalation of Polymer Nanocomposites Progress in Polymer Nanocomposites Processing Processing of Thermoset Nanocomposites Conclusions