Polymer Nanocomposites Polymer nanocomposites are polymer matrix composites in which the reinforcement has at least one of its dimensions in the nanometer range (1 nanometer (nm)=10-3 um (micron)=10-9m).These composites show great promise not only in terms of superior mechanical properties,but also in terms of superior thermal,electrical,optical,and other properties,and,in general,at relatively low-reinforcement volume fractions.The principal reasons for such highly improved properties are (1)the properties of nano-reinforce- ments are considerably higher than the reinforcing fibers in use and(2)the ratio of their surface area to volume is very high,which provides a greater interfacial interaction with the matrix. In this chapter,we discuss three types of nanoreinforcements,namely nanoclay,carbon nanofibers,and carbon nanotubes.The emphasis here will be on the improvement in the mechanical properties of the polymer matrix.The improvement in other properties is not discussed in this chapter and can be found in the references listed at the end of this chapter. 8.1 NANOCLAY The reinforcement used in nanoclay composites is a layered silicate clay min- eral,such as smectite clay,that belongs to a family of silicates known as 2:1 phyllosilicates [1].In the natural form,the layered smectite clay particles are 6-10 um thick and contain >3000 planar layers.Unlike the common clay minerals,such as talc and mica,smectite clay can be exfoliated or delaminated and dispersed as individual layers,each ~1 nm thick.In the exfoliated form,the surface area of each nanoclay particle is ~750 m-/g and the aspect ratio is >50. The crystal structure of each layer of smectite clays contains two outer tetrahedral sheets,filled mainly with Si,and a central octahedral sheet of alumina or magnesia(Figure 8.1).The thickness of each layer is ~1 nm,but the lateral dimensions of these layers may range from 200 to 2000 nm.The layers are separated by a very small gap,called the interlayer or the gallery.The negative charge,generated by isomorphic substitution of Al+with Mg2+or Mg2+with Li+within the layers,is counterbalanced by the presence of hydrated alkaline cations,such as Na or Ca,in the interlayer.Since the forces that hold the layers together are relatively weak,it is possible to intercalate small organic molecules between the layers. 2007 by Taylor&Francis Group.LLC
8 Polymer Nanocomposites Polymer nanocomposites are polymer matrix composites in which the reinforcement has at least one of its dimensions in the nanometer range (1 nanometer (nm) ¼ 103 mm (micron) ¼ 109 m). These composites show great promise not only in terms of superior mechanical properties, but also in terms of superior thermal, electrical, optical, and other properties, and, in general, at relatively low-reinforcement volume fractions. The principal reasons for such highly improved properties are (1) the properties of nano-reinforcements are considerably higher than the reinforcing fibers in use and (2) the ratio of their surface area to volume is very high, which provides a greater interfacial interaction with the matrix. In this chapter, we discuss three types of nanoreinforcements, namely nanoclay, carbon nanofibers, and carbon nanotubes. The emphasis here will be on the improvement in the mechanical properties of the polymer matrix. The improvement in other properties is not discussed in this chapter and can be found in the references listed at the end of this chapter. 8.1 NANOCLAY The reinforcement used in nanoclay composites is a layered silicate clay mineral, such as smectite clay, that belongs to a family of silicates known as 2:1 phyllosilicates [1]. In the natural form, the layered smectite clay particles are 6–10 mm thick and contain >3000 planar layers. Unlike the common clay minerals, such as talc and mica, smectite clay can be exfoliated or delaminated and dispersed as individual layers, each ~1 nm thick. In the exfoliated form, the surface area of each nanoclay particle is ~750 m2 =g and the aspect ratio is >50. The crystal structure of each layer of smectite clays contains two outer tetrahedral sheets, filled mainly with Si, and a central octahedral sheet of alumina or magnesia (Figure 8.1). The thickness of each layer is ~1 nm, but the lateral dimensions of these layers may range from 200 to 2000 nm. The layers are separated by a very small gap, called the interlayer or the gallery. The negative charge, generated by isomorphic substitution of Al3þ with Mg2þ or Mg2þ with Liþ within the layers, is counterbalanced by the presence of hydrated alkaline cations, such as Na or Ca, in the interlayer. Since the forces that hold the layers together are relatively weak, it is possible to intercalate small organic molecules between the layers. 2007 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
8 -O.OH -Al,Mg.Fe Silicate layer ~1 nm -0,0H Si Basal spacing -0 Na" Inter layer ○:0:OH O.●:Si(A) ●:Al,Fe,Mg FIGURE 8.1 Crystal structure of smectite clay.(From Kato,M.and Usuki,A., Polymer-Clay Nanocomposites.T.J.Pinnavai and Beall,eds.,John Wiley Sons, Chichester,U.K.,2000.With permission.) One of the common smectite clays used for nanocomposite applications is called montmorillonite that has the following chemical formula Mx(Al4-xMgx)SisO20(OH)4, where M represents a monovalent cation,such as a sodium ion,and x is the degree of isomorphic substitution (between 0.5 and 1.3).Montmorillonite is hydrophilic which makes its exfoliation in conventional polymers difficult.For exfoliation,montmorillonite is chemically modified to exchange the cations with alkyl ammonium ions.Since the majority of the cations are located inside the galleries and the alkyl ammonium ions are bulkier than the cations,the exchange increases the interlayer spacing and makes it easier for intercalation of polymer molecules between the layers. When modified smectite clay is mixed with a polymer,three different types of dispersion are possible.They are shown schematically in Figure 8.2.The type of dispersion depends on the polymer,layered silicate,organic cation,and the method of preparation of the nanocomposite. 1.Intercalated dispersion,in which one or more polymer molecules are intercalated between the silicate layers.The resulting material has a well-ordered multilayered morphology of alternating polymer and silicate layers.The spacing between the silicate layers is between 2 and 3 nm. 2007 by Taylor Francis Group,LLC
One of the common smectite clays used for nanocomposite applications is called montmorillonite that has the following chemical formula Mx(Al4xMgx)Si8O20(OH)4, where M represents a monovalent cation, such as a sodium ion, and x is the degree of isomorphic substitution (between 0.5 and 1.3). Montmorillonite is hydrophilic which makes its exfoliation in conventional polymers difficult. For exfoliation, montmorillonite is chemically modified to exchange the cations with alkyl ammonium ions. Since the majority of the cations are located inside the galleries and the alkyl ammonium ions are bulkier than the cations, the exchange increases the interlayer spacing and makes it easier for intercalation of polymer molecules between the layers. When modified smectite clay is mixed with a polymer, three different types of dispersion are possible. They are shown schematically in Figure 8.2. The type of dispersion depends on the polymer, layered silicate, organic cation, and the method of preparation of the nanocomposite. 1. Intercalated dispersion, in which one or more polymer molecules are intercalated between the silicate layers. The resulting material has a well-ordered multilayered morphology of alternating polymer and silicate layers. The spacing between the silicate layers is between 2 and 3 nm. O Basal spacing Inter layer Silicate layer ~1 nm Si Si O, OH O, OH Al, Mg, Fe O Na+ :O :OH . :Si (AI) :Al, Fe, Mg FIGURE 8.1 Crystal structure of smectite clay. (From Kato, M. and Usuki, A., Polymer–Clay Nanocomposites, T.J. Pinnavai and Beall, eds., John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, U.K., 2000. With permission.) 2007 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
Layered silicate Polymer (a) (b) (c) FIGURE 8.2 Three possible dispersions of smectite clay in polymer matrix.(a)phase- separated (microcomposite):(b)intercalated (nanocomposite):and (c)exfoliated (nanocomposite).(From Alexandre,M.and Dubois,P.,Mater.Sci.Eng.,28,1,2000.With permission.) 2.Exfoliated dispersion,in which the silicate layers are completely dela- minated and are uniformly dispersed in the polymer matrix.The spacing between the silicate layers is between 8 and 10 nm.This is the most desirable dispersion for improved properties. 3.Phase-separated dispersion,in which the polymer is unable to intercal- ate the silicate sheets and the silicate particles are dispersed as phase- separated domains,called tactoids. Following are the most common techniques used for dispersing layered silicates in polymers to make nanoclay-polymer composites. 1.Solution method:In this method,the layered silicate is first exfoliated into single layers using a solvent in which the polymer is soluble.When the polymer is added later,it is adsorbed into the exfoliated sheets,and when the solvent is evaporated,a multilayered structure of exfoliated sheets and polymer molecules sandwiched between them is created. The solution method has been widely used with water-soluble polymers, such as polyvinyl alcohol(PVA)and polyethylene oxide. 2.In situ polymerization method:In this method,the layered silicate is swollen within the liquid monomer,which is later polymerized either by heat or by radiation.Thus,in this method,the polymer molecules are formed in situ between the intercalated sheets. 2007 by Taylor&Francis Group.LLC
2. Exfoliated dispersion, in which the silicate layers are completely delaminated and are uniformly dispersed in the polymer matrix. The spacing between the silicate layers is between 8 and 10 nm. This is the most desirable dispersion for improved properties. 3. Phase-separated dispersion, in which the polymer is unable to intercalate the silicate sheets and the silicate particles are dispersed as phaseseparated domains, called tactoids. Following are the most common techniques used for dispersing layered silicates in polymers to make nanoclay–polymer composites. 1. Solution method: In this method, the layered silicate is first exfoliated into single layers using a solvent in which the polymer is soluble. When the polymer is added later, it is adsorbed into the exfoliated sheets, and when the solvent is evaporated, a multilayered structure of exfoliated sheets and polymer molecules sandwiched between them is created. The solution method has been widely used with water-soluble polymers, such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyethylene oxide. 2. In situ polymerization method: In this method, the layered silicate is swollen within the liquid monomer, which is later polymerized either by heat or by radiation. Thus, in this method, the polymer molecules are formed in situ between the intercalated sheets. Layered silicate Polymer (a) (b) (c) FIGURE 8.2 Three possible dispersions of smectite clay in polymer matrix. (a) phaseseparated (microcomposite); (b) intercalated (nanocomposite); and (c) exfoliated (nanocomposite). (From Alexandre, M. and Dubois, P., Mater. Sci. Eng., 28, 1, 2000. With permission.) 2007 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
The in situ method is commonly used with thermoset polymers,such as epoxy.It has also been used with thermoplastics,such as polystyrene and polyamide-6 (PA-6),and elastomers,such as polyurethane and thermoplastic polyolefins(TPOs).The first important commercial appli- cation of nanoclay composite was based on polyamide-6,and as dis- closed by its developer,Toyota Motor Corp.,it was prepared by the in situ method [2].In this case,the montmorillonite clay was mixed with an o,@-amino acid in aqueous hydrochloric acid to attach carboxyl groups to the clay particles.The modified clay was then mixed with the caprolactam monomer at 100C,where it was swollen by the mono- mer.The carboxyl groups initiated the ring-opening polymerization reaction of caprolactam to form polyamide-6 molecules and ionically bonded them to the clay particles.The growth of the molecules caused the exfoliation of the clay particles. 3.Melt processing method:The layered silicate particles are mixed with the polymer in the liquid state.Depending on the processing condition and the compatibility between the polymer and the clay surface,the polymer molecules can enter into the interlayer space of the clay particles and can form either an intercalated or an exfoliated structure. The melt processing method has been used with a variety of thermoplastics, such as polypropylene and polyamide-6,using conventional melt processing techniques,such as extrusion and injection molding.The high melt viscosity of thermoplastics and the mechanical action of the rotating screw in an extruder or an injection-molding machine create high shear stresses which tend to delaminate the original clay stack into thinner stacks.Diffusion of polymer molecules between the layers in the stacks then tends to peel the layers away into intercalated or exfoliated form [3]. The ability of smectite clay to greatly improve mechanical properties of polymers was first demonstrated in the research conducted by Toyota Motor Corp.in 1987.The properties of the nanoclay-polyamide-6 composite prepared by the in situ polymerization method at Toyota Research are given in Table 8.1. With the addition of only 4.2 wt%of exfoliated montmorillonite nanoclay,the tensile strength increased by 55%and the tensile modulus increased by 91% compared with the base polymer,which in this case was a polyamide-6. The other significant increase was in the heat deflection temperature (HDT). Table 8.1 also shows the benefit of exfoliation as the properties with exfoliation are compared with those without exfoliation.The nonexfoliated clay-PA-6 composite was prepared by simply melt blending montmorillonite clay with PA-6 in a twin-screw extruder. Since the publication of the Toyota research results,the development of nanoclay-reinforced thermoplastics and thermosets has rapidly progressed. 2007 by Taylor Francis Group,LLC
The in situ method is commonly used with thermoset polymers, such as epoxy. It has also been used with thermoplastics, such as polystyrene and polyamide-6 (PA-6), and elastomers, such as polyurethane and thermoplastic polyolefins (TPOs). The first important commercial application of nanoclay composite was based on polyamide-6, and as disclosed by its developer, Toyota Motor Corp., it was prepared by the in situ method [2]. In this case, the montmorillonite clay was mixed with an a,v-amino acid in aqueous hydrochloric acid to attach carboxyl groups to the clay particles. The modified clay was then mixed with the caprolactam monomer at 1008C, where it was swollen by the monomer. The carboxyl groups initiated the ring-opening polymerization reaction of caprolactam to form polyamide-6 molecules and ionically bonded them to the clay particles. The growth of the molecules caused the exfoliation of the clay particles. 3. Melt processing method: The layered silicate particles are mixed with the polymer in the liquid state. Depending on the processing condition and the compatibility between the polymer and the clay surface, the polymer molecules can enter into the interlayer space of the clay particles and can form either an intercalated or an exfoliated structure. The melt processing method has been used with a variety of thermoplastics, such as polypropylene and polyamide-6, using conventional melt processing techniques, such as extrusion and injection molding. The high melt viscosity of thermoplastics and the mechanical action of the rotating screw in an extruder or an injection-molding machine create high shear stresses which tend to delaminate the original clay stack into thinner stacks. Diffusion of polymer molecules between the layers in the stacks then tends to peel the layers away into intercalated or exfoliated form [3]. The ability of smectite clay to greatly improve mechanical properties of polymers was first demonstrated in the research conducted by Toyota Motor Corp. in 1987. The properties of the nanoclay–polyamide-6 composite prepared by the in situ polymerization method at Toyota Research are given in Table 8.1. With the addition of only 4.2 wt% of exfoliated montmorillonite nanoclay, the tensile strength increased by 55% and the tensile modulus increased by 91% compared with the base polymer, which in this case was a polyamide-6. The other significant increase was in the heat deflection temperature (HDT). Table 8.1 also shows the benefit of exfoliation as the properties with exfoliation are compared with those without exfoliation. The nonexfoliated clay–PA-6 composite was prepared by simply melt blending montmorillonite clay with PA-6 in a twin-screw extruder. Since the publication of the Toyota research results, the development of nanoclay-reinforced thermoplastics and thermosets has rapidly progressed. 2007 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
TABLE 8.1 Properties of Nanoclay-Reinforced Polyamide-6 Tensile Tensile Charpy Impact Wt% Strength Modulus Strength HDT (C) of Clay (MPa) (GPa) k/m2) at 145 MPa Polyamide-6 0 69 1.1 2.3 65 (PA-6 PA-6 with exfoliated 4.2 107 2.1 2.8 145 nanoclay PA-6 with 5.0 61 1.0 2.2 89 nonexfoliated clay Source:Adapted from Kato,M.and Usuki,A.,in Polymer-Clay Nanocomposites,T.J.Pinnavai and G.W.Beall,eds.,John Wiley Sons,Chichester,UK,2000. The most attractive attribute of adding nanoclay to polymers has been the improvement of modulus that can be attained with only 1-5 wt%of nanoclay. There are many other advantages such as reduction in gas permeability and increase in thermal stability and fire retardancy [1,4].The key to achieving improved properties is the exfoliation.Uniform dispersion of nanoclay and interaction between nanoclay and the polymer matrix are also important factors,especially in controlling the tensile strength,elongation at break,and impact resistance. 8.2 CARBON NANOFIBERS Carbon nanofibers are produced either in vapor-grown form [5]or by electro- spinning [6].Vapor-grown carbon nanofibers(VGCNF)have so far received the most attention for commercial applications and are discussed in this section. They are typically 20-200 nm in diameter and 30-100 um in length.In com- parison,the conventional PAN or pitch-based carbon fibers are 5-10 um in diameter and are produced in continuous length.Carbon fibers are also made in vapor-grown form,but their diameter is in the range of 3-20 um. VGCNF are produced in vapor phase by decomposing carbon-containing gases,such as methane(CH4),ethane(C2H6),acetylene (C2H2),carbon mon- oxide(CO),benzene,or coal gas in presence of floating metal catalyst particles inside a high-temperature reactor.Ultrafine particles of the catalyst are either carried by the flowing gas into the reactor or produced directly in the reactor by the decomposition of a catalyst precursor.The most common catalyst is iron, which is produced by the decomposition of ferrocene,Fe(CO)s.A variety of other catalysts,containing nickel,cobalt,nickel-iron,and nickel-cobalt com- pounds,have also been used.Depending on the carbon-containing gas,the 2007 by Taylor&Francis Group.LLC
The most attractive attribute of adding nanoclay to polymers has been the improvement of modulus that can be attained with only 1–5 wt% of nanoclay. There are many other advantages such as reduction in gas permeability and increase in thermal stability and fire retardancy [1,4]. The key to achieving improved properties is the exfoliation. Uniform dispersion of nanoclay and interaction between nanoclay and the polymer matrix are also important factors, especially in controlling the tensile strength, elongation at break, and impact resistance. 8.2 CARBON NANOFIBERS Carbon nanofibers are produced either in vapor-grown form [5] or by electrospinning [6]. Vapor-grown carbon nanofibers (VGCNF) have so far received the most attention for commercial applications and are discussed in this section. They are typically 20–200 nm in diameter and 30–100 mm in length. In comparison, the conventional PAN or pitch-based carbon fibers are 5–10 mm in diameter and are produced in continuous length. Carbon fibers are also made in vapor-grown form, but their diameter is in the range of 3–20 mm. VGCNF are produced in vapor phase by decomposing carbon-containing gases, such as methane (CH4), ethane (C2H6), acetylene (C2H2), carbon monoxide (CO), benzene, or coal gas in presence of floating metal catalyst particles inside a high-temperature reactor. Ultrafine particles of the catalyst are either carried by the flowing gas into the reactor or produced directly in the reactor by the decomposition of a catalyst precursor. The most common catalyst is iron, which is produced by the decomposition of ferrocene, Fe(CO)5. A variety of other catalysts, containing nickel, cobalt, nickel–iron, and nickel–cobalt compounds, have also been used. Depending on the carbon-containing gas, the TABLE 8.1 Properties of Nanoclay-Reinforced Polyamide-6 Wt% of Clay Tensile Strength (MPa) Tensile Modulus (GPa) Charpy Impact Strength (kJ=m2 ) HDT (8C) at 145 MPa Polyamide-6 (PA-6) 0 69 1.1 2.3 65 PA-6 with exfoliated nanoclay 4.2 107 2.1 2.8 145 PA-6 with nonexfoliated clay 5.0 61 1.0 2.2 89 Source: Adapted from Kato, M. and Usuki, A., in Polymer–Clay Nanocomposites, T.J. Pinnavai and G.W. Beall, eds., John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, UK, 2000. 2007 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC