Nanocomposites – Properties and Applications Advantages of Nanosized Additions

The Nanocomposites 2000 conference has revealed clearly the property advantages that nanomaterial additives can provide in comparison to both their conventional filler counterparts and base polymer. Properties which have been shown to undergo substantial improvements include:

· Mechanical properties e.g. strength, modulus and dimensional stability

· Decreased permeability to gases, water and hydrocarbons

· Thermal stability and heat distortion temperature

· Flame retardancy and reduced smoke emissions

· Chemical resistance

· Surface appearance

· Electrical conductivity

· Optical clarity in comparison to conventionally filled polymers

Disadvantages of Nanosized Additions

To date one of the few disadvantages associated with nanoparticle incorporation has concerned toughness and impact performance. Some of the data presented has suggested that nanoclay modification of polymers such as polyamides, could reduce impact performance. Clearly this is an issue which would require consideration for applications where impact loading events are likely. In addition, further research will be necessary to, for example, develop a better understanding of formulation/structure/property relationships, better routes to platelet exfoliation and dispersion etc.

Particle Loadings

In addition it is important to recognise that nanoparticulate/fibrous loading confers significant property improvements with very low loading levels, traditional microparticle additives requiring much higher loading levels to achieve similar performance. This in turn can result in significant weight reductions (of obvious importance for various military and aerospace applications) for similar performance, greater strength for similar structural dimensions and, for barrier applications, increased barrier performance for similar material thickness.

Examples of Mechanical Property gains due to Nanoparticle Additions

Data provided by Hartmut Fischer of TNO in the Netherlands relating to polyamide – montmorillonite nanocomposites indicates tensile strength improvements of approximately 40 and 20% at temperatures of 23ºC and 120ºC respectively and modulus improvements of 70% and a very impressive 220% at the same temperatures. In addition Heat Distortion Temperature was shown to increase from 65ºC for the unmodified polyamide to 152ºC for the nanoclay-modified material, all the above being achieved with just a 5% loading of montmorillonite clay. Similar mechanical property improvements were presented for polymethyl methacrylate – clay hybrids.

Further data provided by Akkepeddi of Honeywell relating to polyamide-6 polymers confirms these property trends. In addition, the further benefits of short/long glass fibre incorporation, together with nanoclay incorporation, are clearly revealed.

Areas of Application

Such mechanical property improvements have resulted in major interest in nanocomposite materials in numerous automotive and general/industrial applications. These include potential for utilisation as mirror housings on various vehicle types, door handles, engine covers and intake manifolds and timing belt covers. More general applications currently being considered include usage as impellers and blades for vacuum cleaners, power tool housings, mower hoods and covers for portable electronic equipment such as mobile phones, pagers etc.

Gas Barriers

The gaseous barrier property improvement that can result from incorporation of relatively small quantities of nanoclay materials is shown to be substantial. Data provided from various sources indicates oxygen transmission rates for polyamide-organoclay composites which are usually less than half that of the unmodified polymer. Further data reveals the extent to which both the amount of clay incorporated in the polymer, and the aspect ratio of the filler contributes to overall barrier performance. In particular, aspect ratio is shown to have a major effect, with high ratios (and hence tendencies towards filler incorporation at the nano-level) quite dramatically enhancing gaseous barrier properties. Such excellent barrier characteristics have resulted in considerable interest in nanoclay composites in food packaging applications, both flexible and rigid. Specific examples include packaging for processed meats, cheese, confectionery, cereals and boil-in-the-bag foods, also extrusion-coating applications in association with paperboard for fruit juice and dairy products, together with co-extrusion processes for the manufacture of beer and carbonated drinks bottles. The use of nanocomposite formulations would be expected to enhance considerably the shelf life of many types of food.

Oxygen Barriers

Honeywell have also been active in developing a combined active/passive oxygen barrier system for polyamide-6 materials. Passive barrier characteristics are provided by nanoclay particles incorporated via melt processing techniques whilst the active contribution comes from an oxygen scavenging ingredient (undisclosed). Oxygen transmission results reveal substantial benefits provided by nanoclay incorporation in comparison to the base polymer (rates approximately 15-20% of the bulk polymer value, with further benefits provided by the combined active/passive system). Akkapeddi suggests that the increased tortuosity provided by the nanoclay particles essentially slows transmission of oxygen through the composite and drives molecules to the active scavenging species resulting in near zero oxygen transmission for a considerable period of time.

Food Packaging

Triton Systems and the US Army are conducting further work on barrier performance in a joint investigation. 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 systems will result in their substantial use as packaging materials in future years.

A somewhat more esoteric possibility arising from enhanced barrier performance recently suggested has been blown–films for artificial intestines!

Fuel Tanks

The ability of nanoclay incorporation to reduce solvent transmission through polymers such as polyamides has been demonstrated. Data provided by De Bievre and Nakamura of UBE Industries reveals significant reductions in fuel transmission through polyamide–6/66 polymers by incorporation of a nanoclay filler. As a result, considerable interest is now being shown in these materials as both fuel tank and fuel line components for cars. Of further interest for this type of application, the reduced fuel transmission characteristics are accompanied by significant material cost reductions.

Films

The presence of filler incorporation at nano-levels has also been shown to have significant effects on the transparency and haze characteristics of films. In comparison to conventionally filled polymers, nanoclay incorporation has been shown to significantly enhance transparency and reduce haze. With polyamide based composites, this effect has been shown to be due to modifications in the crystallisation behaviour brought about by the nanoclay particles; spherilitic domain dimensions being considerably smaller. Similarly, nano-modified polymers have been shown, when employed to coat polymeric transparency materials, to enhance both toughness and hardness of these materials without interfering with light transmission characteristics. An ability to resist high velocity impact combined with substantially improved abrasion resistance was demonstrated by Haghighat of Triton Systems.

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 minimise the extent to which water is absorbed can be a major advantage. Data provided by Beall from Missouri Baptist College indicates the significant extent to which nanoclay incorporation can reduce the extent of water absorption in a polymer. Similar effects have been observed by van Es of DSM with polyamide based nanocomposites. In addition, van Es noted a significant effect of nanoclay aspect ratio on water diffusion characteristics in a polyimide nanocomposite. Specifically, increasing aspect ratio was found to diminish substantially the amount of water absorbed, thus indicating the beneficial effects likely from nanoparticle incorporation in comparison to conventional microparticle loading. Hydrophobic enhancement would clearly promote both improved nanocomposite properties and diminish the extent to which water would be transmitted through to an underlying substrate. Thus applications in which contact with water or moist environments is likely could clearly benefit from materials incorporating nanoclay particles.

Flammability Reduction

The ability of nanoclay incorporation to reduce the flammability of polymeric materials was a major theme of the paper presented by Gilman of the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the US. In his work Gilman demonstrated the extent to which flammability behaviour could be restricted in polymers such as polypropylene with as little as 2% nanoclay loading. In particular heat release rates, as obtained from cone calorimetry experiments, were found to diminish substantially by nanoclay incorporation. Although conventional microparticle filler incorporation, together with the use of flame retardant and intumescent agents would also minimise flammability behaviour, this is usually accompanied by reductions in various other important properties. With the nanoclay approach, this is usually achieved whilst maintaining or enhancing other properties and characteristics.

Asignatura: E.E.S
Saithrhu R. Gonzalez C.