INVESTIGADORES
ALVAREZ Vera Alejandra
capítulos de libros
Título:
Strategies for improving the performance of polymeric matrix/clay nanocomposites
Autor/es:
LEANDRO LUDUEÑA; VERA ALVAREZ
Libro:
Advances in Materials Science Research
Editorial:
Nova Publishers
Referencias:
Año: 2011;
Resumen:
This review is designed to be a comprehensive source for polymer/clay nanocomposite
research. This work focuses on several strategies to obtain well-dispersed and, so that
with improved mechanical properties, nanocomposites. The strategies are based on the
chemical modification of the clay and on the variation of processing conditions. The
different reviewed works used wide angle X-ray diffractometry (XRD), transmission
electron microscopy (TEM) and melt rheology in order to analyze the clay dispersion
degree inside the matrix. The effect of changing processing parameters (temperature,
speed of rotation of the screws and residence time) on the morphology and mechanical
properties of polymer/clay nanocomposites was also analyzed. Different processing
techniques, such us stretching and injection molding, compression molding, were also
reviewed and the effect of each one on the final properties of nanocomposites were
determined. It was shown that the variation of extrusion parameters not always has
significant influence on the final properties of the nanocomposite, which is mainly related
with the fact that, when shear forces are used for polymer/clay melt blending, the critical
step for obtaining a high degree of dispersion of reinforcement within the matrix is the
optimization of a balance between the polymer/clay chemical compatibility and the
thermo-mechanical stability of the clay organo-modifier. Finally, it was shown that using
certain processing techniques in which different fluid regions are subjected to extensional
flow, the clay particles can be oriented preferentially in that direction improving the
mechanical properties of the nanocomposite.