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