Abstract
Fully dispersed layered silicate nanoparticles (nanoclay) in a polymer matrix have provided a new class of multi-functional materials exhibiting several performance improvements over conventional composites. Yet the challenges of miscibility and interfacial strength might prevent nanocomposites from realizing their full potential. In this paper we demonstrate the effect of the chemical characteristics of the nanoclay on the miscibility and dispersion in the polymer matrix as well as on the interfacial strength of the bound polymer and the nanoclay mobility, all of which determine the macroscopic properties of the nanocomposite. © 2009 The Royal Society of Chemistry.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 3481 |
| Journal | Soft Matter |
| Volume | 5 |
| Issue number | 18 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2009 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01Acknowledged KAUST grant number(s): KUS-C1-018-02
Acknowledgements: The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN) through projects MAT 2004-00825 and MAT-2005-01768. JCG acknowledges support from MICINN in the form of a FPI grant and EPG acknowledges the support of Award No. KUS-C1-018-02 made by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). Special thanks are due to Shigeyuki Toki and Benjamin S. Hsiao from Stony Brook University and the X27C beamline in the National Synchrotron Light Source at Brookhaven National Laboratory.
This publication acknowledges KAUST support, but has no KAUST affiliated authors.