Functional and Physical Properties of Polymer Nanocomposites

Aravind Dasari is Assistant Professor in the School of Material Science and Engineering at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Prior to this he worked at IMDEA Materials Institute, Madrid, Spain. His research emphasis is on understanding the various facets of processing-structure-property relations in hybrid polymer nanocomposites, to achieve synergistic properties for different end applications. He has published over 50 papers in international journals, 5 invited book chapters, and 1 book. James Njuguna is Lecturer in Structural Dynamics at the Centre for Automotive Technology, Cranfield University, UK. His research interests lie in transport lightweight structures, particularly using nanocomposites subject to impact, blast or crash loadings. He initially worked as an aircraft engineer with AIM-AIR for nearly 5 years specialising in lightweight aircraft airframes before returning to further studies and embarking on a research career on lightweight structures.?Dr Njuguna has published 1 book, 8 book chapters, and over 80 scientific journal/conference papers. He was awarded a Marie Curie Fellowship (2003-04), and a prestigious Research Councils' United Kingdom Fellowship (2005-10).

List of Contributors ix Preface xi 1 Introduction 1 Aravind Dasari and James Njuguna References 5 2 Three-dimensional Microstructural Characterization of Polymer Nanocomposites by Electron Tomography 7 Florent Dalmas and Lucian Roiban 2.1 Introduction 7 2.2 3D Observation at the Nanoscale 8 2.2.1 Imaging with Electrons 8 2.2.2 Principles of Transmission ET 10 2.3 Application to Polymer Matrix Nanocomposites 13 2.4 3D Image Analysis and Quantification 19 2.5 Conclusion and Prospects 23 References 25 3 Polymer Nanocomposites for Food Packaging Applications 29 Shiv Shankar and Jong ]Whan Rhim 3.1 Introduction 29 3.2 Polymer Nanocomposite 31 3.2.1 Types of Polymer 31 3.2.2 Types of Nanofillers 32 3.3 Preparation of Nanocomposites 34 3.4 Characterization Methods of Polymer Nanocomposite Films 36 3.5 Types of Polymer Nanocomposite Packaging 36 3.5.1 Rigid Packaging 37 3.5.2 Nylon ]Based Packaging Materials 38 3.5.3 Biodegradable Packaging 39 3.5.4 Flexible Packaging 39 3.5.5 Active Packaging 40 3.5.6 Intelligent/Smart Packaging 43 3.5.7 Nanocoating 44 3.5.8 Edible Coating/Packaging Films 45 3.5.9 Other Types of Packaging 45 3.6 Properties of Polymer Nanocomposites 46 3.6.1 Mechanical Properties 46 3.6.2 Barrier Properties 46 3.6.3 Chemical Resistance Properties 46 3.6.4 Biodegradation Properties 47 3.6.5 Other Properties 48 3.7 Conclusion 49 Acknowledgments 50 References 50 4 Polymer Nanocomposites Biodegradation 57 Kikku Fukushima and Giovanni Camino 4.1 Introduction 57 4.2 Biodegradation of Polymers and Their Nanocomposites 59 4.2.1 Standards for Environmentally Biodegradable Polymers 59 4.2.2 Mechanisms of Polymer Biodegradation 61 4.2.3 Biodegradation of Polymers from Natural Resources and Their Nanocomposites 63 4.2.4 Biodegradation of Polymers from Fossil Origins and Their Nanocomposites 74 4.3 Summary 81 References 84 5 Functional Fibers Produced Using Electrospinning Techniques for Energy Scavenging Applications 93 Avinash Baji and Yiu ]Wing Mai 5.1 Introduction 93 5.2 Principle of Electrospinning 95 5.3 Fabrication of Aligned Fibers 96 5.4 Fabrication of Ferro/Piezoelectric Organic Fibers 97 5.5 Fabrication of Ferro/Piezoelectric Inorganic Fibers 99 5.6 Fabrication of Fibers Filled with Reinforcements 100 5.7 Characterization of Ferro/Piezoelectric Behavior of Electrospun Fibers 102 5.8 Piezoresponse of Electrospun Fibers 103 5.9 Nanogenerators Based on Electrospun Fibers 106 5.10 Energy Harvesters Based on Electrospun Fibers 107 5.11 Force/Pressure Sensors 108 5.12 Multifunctional Inorganic Fibers 109 5.13 Magnetoelectric Inorganic Fibers 112 5.14 Future Directions 114 Acknowledgments 115 References 115 6 Magnetic Properties of Polymer Nanocomposites 119 Paolo Allia, Marco Sangermano and Alessandro Chiolerio 6.1 Introduction 119 6.2 Preparation of Magnetic NPs and Its Influence on the Properties of NCs 120 6.2.1 Top ]down versus Bottom ]up Approach to Synthesis 120 6.2.2 Considerations Regarding Homogeneity and Interactions 121 6.3 Anhysteretic Properties and Interparticle Interactions 124 6.4 Hysteretic Properties 127 6.5 Nanocomposites Exhibiting Magnetoelectric Properties 131 6.6 Applications 132 References 135 7 Optical Properties of Polymer Nanocomposites 139 Ignazio Roppolo, Marco Sangermano and Alessandro Chiolerio 7.1 Introduction 139 7.2 Photoluminescence and Related Applications 140 7.2.1 Nancomposite with Quantum Dots 141 7.2.2 Transition Metal Nanocomposites 143 7.2.3 Rare ]Earth Polymer Nanocomposites 143 7.3 Light Emission in Polymer Nanocomposites: From Science to Applications 145 7.4 Transparency and Adsorbance in Polymer Nanocomposite 152 References 154 8 Bismuth ]Based Nanomaterials and Platforms for Sensing and Biosensing Applications 159 Miquel Cadevall, Josep Ros, and Arben Merkoci 8.1 General Properties and Applications of Bismuth 159 8.2 BiNPs Synthesis 161 8.2.1 Chemical Methods 161 8.2.2 Physical Methods 164 8.3 Bi ]Based Modifications and Composites for (Bio)sensing Platforms 167 8.3.1 Chemical Sensing 167 8.3.2 Biosensing Applications 169 8.4 Conclusions 173 Acknowledgments 173 References 174 9 High ]Temperature ]Resistant Polymer Nanocomposites 183 Indraneel S. Zope and Aravind Dasari 9.1 Background 183 9.2 Representative High ]Performance Polymer Nanocomposites 187 9.2.1 Polyethersulfone Nanocomposites 187 9.2.2 Polyimide Nanocomposites 192 9.2.3 Polyetherimide Nanocomposites 196 9.3 Applications of High ]Temperature Polymers and their Nanocomposites 198 Acknowledgments 200 References 200 Index 203