NANO – COMPOSITES “

“the smart
Jitendra Chaure, Shadab
Imam

Abstract -- Nanocomposites are, as their name implies,

composite materials in which at least one of the
ingredients has a size on the nanometer length scale

The term nanocomposites encompasses a wide range

of materials mixed at a nanometer scale.

Three dimensional metal matrix composites, two

dimensional lamellar composites and one
dimensional nanowires and zero dimensional core
shells all represents many variations of nano-mixed
and layer materials.

These constructs combine the best properties of each

of the components to give rise to new and unique
properties for advanced applications.

By incorporating nanostructures in the normal

polymers its natural characteristics can greately be
changed so that its application area can be increased.
MICROPARTICLES
By using nanocomposite technology manufacturing
of “smart shirt” is possible that reads your body
parameters and sends information to a remote
computer through a wireless communication system.

Athletes can perform better on the tracks due to

smart fabrics they wear.

Mechanical properties like tensile strength, modulus

of rigidity, wear and tear resistance, heat distortion,
and permeability can greatly be increased.

WHAT ARE NANOCOMPISITES NANOPARTICLES

Nanocomposites are nano scale spherical inorganic By inserting the nanometric inorganic compounds,
particles of dimensions less than 100 nanometre diameter. the properties of polymers improve and this has a lot
Naocompsite technology is having a great impact in of applications depending upon the inorganic
polymers. material present in the polymers

WHY NANOCOMPOSITES ? Polymer nanocomposites are materials in which

nanoscopic inorganic particles, typically 10-100
Because size does matters and nanocomposites have
armstrong in atleast one dimension, are dispersed in
increased surface area on nanoparticles.
an organic polymer matrix in order to dramatically
improve the performance properties of the
polymer.Because of the nanometer sizes , filler
dispersion nanocomposites exhibit markedly
 improved properties when compared to the pure
polymers of their traditional composites.
1. Tensile strength improvements of approximately
40 and 20% at temperatures of 23°C and 120°C
TYPES OF NANOCOMPOSITES
respectively.

2. Modulus improvements of 70% and a very

A. 1.) LAYERED SILICAT NANOCOMPOSITES
Layered silicate nanocomposites exhibit superior
mechanical properties ( 40% increase of room
temperature tensile strength), heat resistance
( 100% increase in the heat distortion
temperature) compared to the neat filled resins.
impressive 220% at temperature of 23°C and
120°C.
3. Heat distortion was shown to increase from
65°C for the unmodified polyamide to 152°C for
the nanoclay modified material achieved with
just a 5% loading of montmorillonite clay.

4. 10 fold decrease in oxygen and hydrogen

dioxide permeability.

5. These new materials are aimed at being a

substitute for more expensive technical parts for
example, gear systems in wood drilling
machines, wear resistance materials and in the
production of barrier plastic film for food
industry.

AREAS OF APPLICATION

2.) γ- IRON NANOCOMPOSITES 1. Gas barriers 2. Oxygen ba

These nanocomposites are used as advanced tonner 3. Food packaging 4. Fuel tanks
materials for high quallity colour copiers and printers
and as contrast agents in NMR analysis, memory
5. Films 6. Environm
devices. Polymer composites containing ferrites are
increasingly replacing conventional ceramic
magnetic because of their mouldability and reduction 7. Flammability reduction 8. Mirror hou
in cost.
9. Door handles 10. Engine co

4.) NANOCLAYS
The most common type of clay is montmorillonite
(MMT), a layered aluminosilicate in the family of
clays. MMT is a component of bentonite clay formed
when volcanic ash settled into ancient brine seas.
MMT can be delaminated and dispersed into
individual layers only one nanometre thick by about
70 nm to 150 nm across. The result is a radical
increase in the surface area to volume ratio : with a
surface area of 750 squaremetre/gram 20 g of MMT
platelets could cover a football field.
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES GAIN DUE TO
NANOPARTICLE ADDITIONS
DESCRIPTION OF SOME APPLICATION
1.) GAS BARRIERS
Data provided from various sources indicates oxygen
transmission rates for polyamide-organoclay
composites which are usually less than half that of
the unmodified polymer.
These excellent barrier characteristics have resulted
in considerable interest in nanoclay composites in
food packaging applications, both flexible and rigid.

3.) FOOD PACKAGING
The requirement here is for a non-refrigerated
packaging system capable of maintaining food
freshness for three years. Nanoclay polymer
composites are currently showing considerable
promise for this application.
It is likely that excellent gaseous barrier properties
exhibited by nanocomposite polymer system will
result in their substantial use as packaging materials
in future years.
4.) FUEL TANKS
The ability of nanoclay incorporation to reduce
solvent transmission through polymers such as
polyamides has been demonstrated.
Data reveals significant reductions in fuel
transmission through polyamide-6/66 polymers by
incorporation of nanoclay filler. As a result,
considerable interest is now being shown in these
materials as both fuel tanks and fuel line components
for cars. The reduced fuel transmission
characteristics are accompanied by significant
material cost reductions.
6.) ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Water laden atmospheres have long been regarded as
one of the most damaging environments which
polymeric materials can encounter.
Thus an ability to minimize the extent to which water
is absorbed can be a major advantage. Nanoclay
incorporation can reduce the extent of water
absorption in a polymer.
Hydrophobic enhancement would clearly promote
both improved nanocomposite properties and
diminish the extent to which water would be
transmitted through to an underlying substrate.
8.) NANOTEXTILE
Did you hear of a shirt that reads your body
parameters and sends information to a remote
computer through a wireless communication system?
Have you watched leading athletes perform better on
the tracks due to smart fabrics they wear?
This is the wonder of nanocomposite technology.
HOW IT WORKS?
When a glass trips on your trousers, its nanotech
fabric will simply repel the juice drops. The Nano-
Tex fabric coated with nanotech engineered
molecules attaches themselves to one another, and
then attach to the fabric forming a nano shield
against juice stains
World's 20 largest textile mills have acquired Nano-
Tex licensing technology so far. You may soon get
to wear its products as this revolutionary innovation
begins to appear in every-day life, though invisible to
the naked eye, as yet. Working the military,
emergency workers and doctors in this sunrise area,
Bethesda, Md. based Sensatex, developed what it
calls a 'smart shirt' - clothing having tiny microscopic
wires interwoven into the fabric itself. Vital
parameters like heart rate, respiration rate, body
temperature, caloric burn, body fat, and UV exposure
can be communicated to the doctors from the field
itself.
Sensatex technology can be incorporated into any
fabric (cotton, Lycra, wool, silk, etc.) or blend of
fabrics without effecting the look, feel or integrity of
the fabric that it is replacing.
The SmartShirt System integrates advances in textile
engineering, wearable computing, and wireless data
transfer to permit the collection, transmission, and
analysis of personal health and lifestyle data.
CURRENT & POSSIBLE FUTURE USES OF
POLYMER NANOCOMPOSITES
It is estimated that there will be 55 million pounds of
PNCs (Polymer Nanocomposites) in production by
2004. The value of this market is forecast to reach
$195 million by then.
It is estimated that widespread use of PNCs by car
manufacturers could save over 1.5 billion liters of
gasoline annually and reduce CO2 emissions by
nearly 10 billion pounds!
Using heat-resistant PNCs to make fire fighter
protective clothing.
Building new structures out of fire retardant PNCs
Conductive Polymer Bronzes. Intercalated
Polyaniline in V2O5 Xerogels" M.G. Kanatzidis, C.-
G. Wu, H.O. Marcy, C.R. Kannewurf J. Am. Chem.
Soc., 1989, 111, 4139-4141
"Low-Dimensional Electrically Conductive Systems.
Intercalated Polymers in V2O5 Xerogels" C.-G. Wu,
M.G. Kanatzidis, H.O. Marcy, D.C. DeGroot, C.R.
Kannewurf NATO-ASI "Lower-Dimensional
Systems and Molecular Devices" R.M. Metzger Ed.
Plenum Press, Inc. 1991, 427-434.
"V2O5 Xerogels as Hosts for Conductive Polymers.
Intercalative Polymerization of Aniline, Pyrrole and
2,2'-Bithiophene" C.-G. Wu, H. O. Marcy, D. C.
DeGroot and C. R. Kannewurf, M. G. Kanatzidis
Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 1990, 173, 317-322

Using light weight PNCs in high temperature/stress

situations such as under the hoods of automobiles
and in the skins of jet aircraft, as opposed to heavier
and costlier metal alloys.

Replacing corrosion-prone metals in the building of

bridges and other large structures with potentially
lighter and stronger Polymer Nanocomposites.

CONCLUION

1. It appears that Nanocomposites have a very

bright future, considering how many possible
uses PNCs could have.

2. 20 years from now it is possible that you could

own a car made completely out of advanced
Thermoplastics!

3. P.S. Thermoplastics are merely plastics which

are capable of being repeatedly softened by heat
and hardened by cooling.

4. Increased filler weight percentage.

5. Increase in modulus of elasticity.

6. Increase in scratch resistance.

7. Increase in yield strength.

8. Decrease in glass transition temperature.

REFERENCES