"There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom

(Richard Phillips Feynman)

On the molecular scale, you find its reasonable to have a machine that does a million steps per second, a mechanical

system that works at computer speeds

(K. Eric Drexler)

Nanotechnology is the science of the extremely tiny. It involves the study and use of materials on an unimaginably small scale, roughly 1 to 100 nanometers. Nanotechnology is the science of the extremely tiny. It involves the study andto use of materials on an Nano refers a nanometer. unimaginably small scale.Nano refers to a nanometer. One nanometer is a millionth of a millimeter. One nanometer is a millionth of a millimeter.

INTRODUCTION
What are composites?? A composite is a combination of two or more different materials that are mixed in an effort to blend the best properties of both.

What are Nanocomposites?

A Nanocomposite is a multiphase solid material where one of the phases has one, two or three dimensions of less than 100 nm, or structure having nano-scale repeat distance between the different phases that make up the material. Mechanically the term nanocomposites are differ from conventional composites due to the exceptionally high surface to volume ratio of the reinforcing ,and/or its exceptionally high aspect ratio.

Nanophase and nanostructured Materials Potential applications in areas Electronics Optics Catalysis Ceramics Magnetic Data storage and Polymer nanocomposites.

Polymer Nanocomposites
Polymer nanocomposites consist of a polymeric material and a reinforcing nanoscalematerial (nanoparticle). Polymer nanocomposites show major improvements in

Mechanical properties
Gas barrier properties, Thermal stability, Fire retardancy etc.

GENERAL CHARACTEISTICS
consist of one or more discontinuous phases of distributed in one continuous phase. continuous phase is called matrix, whereas discontinuous phase is called reinforcement" or reinforcing material

Thermoplastics Matrix
Polyethylene Polypropylene Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

Nylon Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) Polycarbonate etc. have been used as polymer matrices for the preparation of nanocomposites.

Thermoset Matrix Unsaturated polyester resin Vinyl ester resine Phenolic resins Epoxy resin Silicone resin Polyimide etc.

Types of Nano-reinforcements.
There are different types of commercially available nanoparticles that can be incorporated into the polymer matrix to form polymer nanocomposites. Depending on the application, the researcher must determine the type of nanoparticle needed to provide the desired effect. The most commonly used nanoparticles in the polymer nanocomposite.

Montmorillonite organoclays (MMT) Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) Carbon nanotubes [multiwall (MWNTs), smalldiameter (SDNTs), and single-wall (SWNTs)] Nanosilica (N-silica) Nanoaluminum oxide (A1203) Nanotitanium oxide (Tio2) Others(Sic)

How nanocomposites work.

Polymer nanocomposites are constructed by dispersing a filler material into nanoparticles that form flat platelets. These platelets are then distributed into a polymer matrix creating multiple parallel layers which force gases to flow through the polymer in a torturous path, forming complex barriers to gases and water vapor, as seen in Figure. As more tortuosity is present in a polymer structure, higher barrier properties will result.

Factors Influencing Properties

Properties of the Matrix Properties of the Nano-reinforcement Interface Properties of the Nanocomposites Interaction between Reinforcement and Matrix during Loading (Thermal, Mechanical, Electronical, etc.) Processing methods Polymer nanocomposite morphology

Challenges in developing polymer nanocomposites.

The choice of nanoparticles requires an interfacial Interaction and/or compatibility with the polymer matrix. Proper selection of process to uniformly disperse and distribute the nanoparticles within the polymer matrix.

What is interfacial region?

Is the region beginning at the point in the fiber at which the properties differ from those of the bulk filler and ending at the point in the matrix at which the properties become equal to those of the matrix Can be a region of altered chemistry, altered polymer chain mobility, altered degree of cure & altered crystallinity

Surface Modification

Ion exchange for clays Addition reaction on CNTs (fullerenes) Acidification, fluorination, etc. in order to attach different functional nanoreinforcement surface to improve dispersion .

groups

onto

Processing of Nanomaterials
Processing methods for solid polymers

Solution intercalation Melt intercalation Roll milling Processing methods for liquid polymers In-situ polymerization Emulsion polymerization High-shear mixing

Processing of Nanomaterials
Key limitations in commercialization-processing Primary difficult: proper dispersion of the fillers Without proper dispersion & distribution; The high surface area is compromised The aggregates can act as defects; limit the properties Distribution-describes the homogeneity of nanofillers throughout samples Dispersion-describes the level of agglomeration.

The schematic representation of mixing (top row, left to right): bad dispersion and distribution; bad dispersion, but good distribution; (bottom row, left to right): good dispersion, but bad distribution, and good dispersion and distribution.

NANOCOMPOSITE STRUCTURE
PHASE SEPARATED STRUCTURE.
When the organic polymer is interacted with inorganic clay(unmodified),the polymer is unable to intercalate within the clay layers and the clay is dispersed as aggregates or particles with layers stacked together within the polymer matrix. The obtained composite structure is considered as Phase separated. INTERCALATED STRUCTURE. When one or more polymer chains are inserted into the inter layer space and cause to the increasing of the inter layer spacing , but the periodic array of the clay layer is still exist ,the intercalated nanocomposite is formed. EXFOLATED STRUCTURE. Exfoliated structure is obtained when the insertion of polymer chains into the clay galleries causes to the separation of the layers one another's and individual layers are dispersed within the polymer matrix.

Basically there are three methods to prepare nanocomposites. They are: SOLUTION INTERCALATION. This is based on a solvent system in which the polymer is soluble and the silicate layers are swellable. The silicate layers is first swollen in a solvent ,such as chloroform. When the polymers and layered silicate solutions are mixed ,the polymer chain intercalate and displace the solvent within the remains ,resulting in nanocomposite. INSITU INTERCALATION POLYMERIZATION. In this method ,the layered silicate is swollen within the liquid monomer ,or a monomer solution, so the polymer formation can occur between the intercalated sheets. polymerization can be initiated by heat or radiation, by the diffusion of suitable initiator. MELT INTERCALATION. Clay is mixed within the polymer matrix in molten temperature .The conventional methods such as extrusion and injection molding are used for dispersion of clay layers within the polymers matrix.

Classification.
Polymeric nanocomposites can be broadly classified a s. . Nanoclay-reinforced composites . Carbon nanotube-reinforced composites . Nanofibre-reinforced composites, and . Inorganic particle-reinforced composites.

Carbon nanotubes
are graphitic sheets rolled into seamless tubes and have diameters ranging from about a nanometer to tens of nanometers with lengths up to centimeters. Nanotubes have received much attention due to their interesting properties (high modulus and electrical/thermal conductivity) since their discovery by Iijima in 1991. Incorporate nanotubes into conventional materials (such as polymers) for improved strength and conductivity.
as single-wall (SWNT), multiwall (MWNT), and the newly established small-diameter (SDNT) material

The packing of the carbon hexagons in the graphitic sheets defines a chiral vector, the vector determine the morphology of the nanotube. Variations in the nanotube morphology can lead to changes in the properties of the nanotube.

The behavior is determined based on a mathematical model developed using the chiral vector indices. Arm-chair nanotubes are metallic having a continuous conduction band. The remaining two the zig-zag and chiral nanotubes are semiconductors, having an energy gap in the conduction band

Nanoclay
The term clay has been understood to be made of small inorganic particles (part of soil fraction < 2 mm), without any definite composition or crystallinity. Montmorillonite (MMT) has the widest acceptability for use in polymers because of their high surface area, and surface reactivity.

Carbon nanofibers (CNF) are form to fill the gap in physical properties between conventional carbon fibres (5.10 m) and carbon nanotubes (1.10 nm). The reduced diameter of nanofiber provides a larger surface area ..

Inorganic Particle-reinforced Composites Nanoparticles are often defined as particles of < 100 nm in diameter. Different particles have been used to prepare polymer/inorganic particle nanocomposites, including: . Metals (Al, Fe, Au, Ag, etc.) . Metal oxides (ZnO, Al2O3, CaCO3, TiO2, etc.) . Nonmetal oxide (SiO2)52 . Other (SiC) The selection of nanoparticles depends on the desired thermal, mechanical, and electrical properties of the nanocomposites. For example, Al nanoparticles are often selected due to their high conductivity; calcium carbonate (CaCO3) particles are chosen because of their low cost and silicon carbide (SiC) nanoparticles are used because of their high hardness, corrosion resistance, and strength.

Properties of Polymer Nanocomposites Thermal: increased thermal resistance, higher glass transition temperature (Tg) or heat deflection temperature (HDT), reduced coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE).

Mechanical: increased modulus, strength, toughness, elongation

Chemical: improved solvent resistance, improved moisture resistance Electrical: improved thermal conductivity, lower resistivity (depends on the nanoparticles) Barrier: reduced oxygen, moisture transmission Optical: clear, transparency provided in selective systems Others: abrasion resistance, etc.reduced shrinkage

Characterization Methods
Wide-angle x-ray diffraction (WAXD) Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and spectroscopy Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) Small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) Thermal gravimetric analyses (TGA) Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) Dynamic mechanical thermal analyses (DMTA) Mechanical properties (tensile, flexural, and compressive strength and modulus, and Izod impact) Flammability (cone calorimeter and UL 94)

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) Scanning probe microscopy (SPM) atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) Neutron scattering Optical microscopy

Applications

automotive (gas tanks, bumpers, interior and exterior panels) construction (building sections and structural panels) aerospace (flame retardant panels and high performance components) electrical and electronics (electrical components and printed circuit boards)

Applications
Abrasion and wear Applications Marine Application Food packaging (containers and wrapping films) Fuel tanks Films Environmental protection Erosion and corrosion Applications

electro catalyst in batteries for energy saving

light weight materials for less fuel onsumption Medical

Drug release agents etc.

Defence Applications of Polymer Nanocomposites Defence Applications of Polymer Nanocomposites

Fire Retardation Ultraviolet Irradiation Resistance. Ballistic Protection Microwave Absorbers Porous Nanocomposites Sensors

CONCLUSION

Nanocomposites are upcoming materials which shows the great changes in all the industrial fields and it is also going to be a economical barrier for developing countries as a tool of Nanotechnology.

THANKS