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Nanomaterials
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Advances in Polymer Blend Nanocomposites
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Advances in Polymer Blend Nanocomposites

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanocomposite Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2022) | Viewed by 10431

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Aurélie Taguet

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Polymers Composites and Hybrids (PCH), IMT Mines Ales, Ales, France
Interests: nanocomposites based on polymer blends; nanoparticles; localization; selective dispersion; multifunctionality; double percolation; mechanical properties; thermal properties; fire properties; electrical conductivity; thermal conductivity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Due to their high specific surface area, nanoparticles are known to improve the mechanical, thermal, fire, barrier, or electrical properties of the polymeric media in which they are dispersed. Dispersion is a key factor in obtaining dramatically increased properties. By dispersing nanoparticles into polymer blends, it is possible to achieve improved properties with lower amounts and also to obtain multifunctional materials by using different kinds of nanoparticles. The aim of the present issue is to collect articles dealing with polymer blend nanocomposites and the influence of their microstructure on the properties, especially the multifunctionality, of the final materials. The dispersion and localization of NPs into polymer blends is guided by thermodynamic and kinetics parameters. By varying those parameters, it is possible to change the microstructure of the polymer blend nanocomposite. Hence, polymer blend nanocomposites promise to be innovative materials in many domains and applications, such as transportation, energy, medicine, electronics, and packaging. Moreover, with the development of new biobased nanoparticles (cellulose nanocrystals and nanofibers) and biobased polymers, more sustainable multifunctional materials are emerging.

Dr. Aurélie Taguet
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nanomaterials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • polymer blends
  • nanoparticles
  • (selective) dispersion
  • localization
  • compatibilization
  • microstructure
  • final properties

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 10639 KiB  
Article
h-BN Modification Using Several Hydroxylation and Grafting Methods and Their Incorporation into a PMMA/PA6 Polymer Blend
by Abdelwahab Boukheit, France Chabert, Belkacem Otazaghine and Aurélie Taguet
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(16), 2735; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano12162735 - 09 Aug 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1966
Abstract
Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) has recently gained much attention due to its high thermal conductivity and low electrical conductivity. In this study, we proposed to evaluate the impact of the modification of h-BN for use in a polymethylmethacrylate/polyamide 6 (PMMA/PA6) polymer blend. Different [...] Read more.
Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) has recently gained much attention due to its high thermal conductivity and low electrical conductivity. In this study, we proposed to evaluate the impact of the modification of h-BN for use in a polymethylmethacrylate/polyamide 6 (PMMA/PA6) polymer blend. Different methods to modify h-BN particles and improve their affinity with polymers were proposed. The modification was performed in two steps: (1) a hydroxylation step for which three different routes were used: calcination, acidic treatment, and ball milling using gallic acid; (2) a grafting step for which four different silane agents were used, carrying different molecular or macromolecular groups: the octadecyl group (Si-C18), propyl amine group (Si-NH2), polystyrene chain (Si-PS), and PMMA chain (Si-PMMA). The modified h-BN samples after hydroxylation and functionalization were characterized by FTIR and TGA. Py-GC/MS was also used to prove the successful graft with Si-C18 groups. Sedimentation tests and multiple light scattering were performed to assess the surface modification of h-BN. Granulometry and SEM observations were performed to evaluate the particle size distribution after hydroxylation. After the addition of Si-PMMA modified h-BN into a PMMA/PA6 co-continuous blend, the morphology of the polymer blend nanocomposites was characterized using SEM. The calculation of the wetting parameter based on the surface tension measurement using the liquid drop model showed that h-BN dispersed in the PA6 phase. Grafting PMMA chains onto hydroxylated h-BN particles combined with an adequate sequence mixing led to a successful localization of the grafted h-BN particles at the interface of the PMMA/PA6 blend. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Polymer Blend Nanocomposites)
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12 pages, 3574 KiB  
Article
Dependence of Electrical Conductivity on Phase Morphology for Graphene Selectively Located at the Interface of Polypropylene/Polyethylene Composites
by Ce Tu, Kenji Nagata and Shouke Yan
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(3), 509; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano12030509 - 01 Feb 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1678
Abstract
Conductive composites of polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) filled with thermally reduced graphene oxide (TRG) were prepared using two different processing sequences. One was a one-step processing method in which the TRG was simultaneously melt blended with PE and PP, called TRG/PP/PE. The [...] Read more.
Conductive composites of polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) filled with thermally reduced graphene oxide (TRG) were prepared using two different processing sequences. One was a one-step processing method in which the TRG was simultaneously melt blended with PE and PP, called TRG/PP/PE. The second was a two-step processing method in which the TRG and the PP were mixed first, and then the (TRG/PP) masterbatch was blended with PE, called (TRG/PP)/PE. The phase morphology and localization of the TRG in TRG/PP/PE and (TRG/PP)/PE composites with different PP/PE compositions were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The TRG was found to be selectively dispersed in the PE phase of the TRG/PP/PE composites, resulting in a low percolation threshold near 2.0 wt%. In the (TRG/PP)/PE composites, the TRG was selectively located at the PP/PE blend interface, resulting in a percolation threshold that was lower than 1.0 wt%. With the addition of 2.0 wt% TRG, the (TRG/PP)/PE composites exhibited a wide range of electrical conductivities at PP/PE weight ratios of 10 w/90 w to 80 w/20 w. Moreover, electrical and rheological measurements of the composites revealed that the co-continuous phase structure is the most efficient candidate for the fabrication of conductive composites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Polymer Blend Nanocomposites)
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13 pages, 4288 KiB  
Article
Melt Spinning of Flexible and Conductive Immiscible Thermoplastic/Elastomer Monofilament for Water Detection
by Julie Regnier, Aurélie Cayla, Christine Campagne and Éric Devaux
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(1), 92; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano12010092 - 29 Dec 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1559
Abstract
In many textile fields, such as industrial structures or clothes, one way to detect a specific liquid leak is the electrical conductivity variation of a yarn. This yarn can be developed using melt spun of Conductive Polymer Composites (CPCs), which blend insulating polymer [...] Read more.
In many textile fields, such as industrial structures or clothes, one way to detect a specific liquid leak is the electrical conductivity variation of a yarn. This yarn can be developed using melt spun of Conductive Polymer Composites (CPCs), which blend insulating polymer and electrically conductive fillers. This study examines the influence of the proportions of an immiscible thermoplastic/elastomer blend for its implementation and its water detection. The thermoplastic polymer used for the detection property is the polyamide 6.6 (PA6.6) filled with enough carbon nanotubes (CNT) to exceed the percolation threshold. However, the addition of fillers decreases the polymer fluidity, resulting in the difficulty to implement the CPC. Using an immiscible polymers blend with an elastomer, which is a propylene-based elastomer (PBE) permits to increase this fluidity and to create a flexible conductive monofilament. After characterizations (morphology, rheological and mechanical) of this blend (PA6.6CNT/PBE) in different proportions, two principles of water detection are established and carried out with the monofilaments: the principle of absorption and the short circuit. It is found that the morphology of the immiscible polymer blend had a significant role in the water detection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Polymer Blend Nanocomposites)
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11 pages, 6099 KiB  
Article
Morphology, Rheological and Mechanical Properties of Isotropic and Anisotropic PP/rPET/GnP Nanocomposite Samples
by Francesco Paolo La Mantia, Vincenzo Titone, Alessandro Milazzo, Manuela Ceraulo and Luigi Botta
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(11), 3058; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano11113058 - 13 Nov 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1905
Abstract
The effect of graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs) on the morphology, rheological, and mechanical properties of isotropic and anisotropic polypropylene (PP)/recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET)-based nanocomposite are reported. All the samples were prepared by melt mixing. PP/rPET and PP/rPET/GnP isotropic sheets were prepared by compression molding, [...] Read more.
The effect of graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs) on the morphology, rheological, and mechanical properties of isotropic and anisotropic polypropylene (PP)/recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET)-based nanocomposite are reported. All the samples were prepared by melt mixing. PP/rPET and PP/rPET/GnP isotropic sheets were prepared by compression molding, whereas the anisotropic fibers were spun using a drawing module of a capillary viscometer. The results obtained showed that the viscosity of the blend is reduced by the presence of GnP due to the lubricating effect of the graphene platelets. However, the Cox–Merz rule is not respected. Compared to the PP/rPET blend, the GnP led to a slight increase in the elastic modulus. However, it causes a slight decrease in elongation at break. Morphological analysis revealed a poor adhesion between the PP and PET phases. Moreover, GnPs distribute around the droplets of the PET phase with a honey-like appearance. Finally, the effect of the orientation on both systems gives rise not only to fibers with higher modulus values, but also with high deformability and a fibrillar morphology of the dispersed PET phase. A fragile-ductile transition driven by the orientation was observed in both systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Polymer Blend Nanocomposites)
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22 pages, 4858 KiB  
Article
Dispersion of Few-Layer Black Phosphorus in Binary Polymer Blend and Block Copolymer Matrices
by Serena Coiai, Elisa Passaglia, Simone Pinna, Stefano Legnaioli, Silvia Borsacchi, Franco Dinelli, Anna Maria Ferretti, Maria Caporali, Manuel Serrano-Ruiz, Maurizio Peruzzini and Francesca Cicogna
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(8), 1996; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano11081996 - 03 Aug 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2185
Abstract
Exfoliated black phosphorus (bP) embedded into a polymer is preserved from oxidation, is stable to air, light, and humidity, and can be further processed into devices without degrading its properties. Most of the examples of exfoliated bP/polymer composites involve a single polymer matrix. [...] Read more.
Exfoliated black phosphorus (bP) embedded into a polymer is preserved from oxidation, is stable to air, light, and humidity, and can be further processed into devices without degrading its properties. Most of the examples of exfoliated bP/polymer composites involve a single polymer matrix. Herein, we report the preparation of biphasic polystyrene/poly(methyl methacrylate) (50/50 wt.%) composites containing few-layer black phosphorus (fl-bP) (0.6–1 wt.%) produced by sonicated-assisted liquid-phase exfoliation. Micro-Raman spectroscopy confirmed the integrity of fl-bP, while scanning electron microscopy evidenced the influence of fl-bP into the coalescence of polymeric phases. Furthermore, the topography of thin films analyzed by atomic force microscopy confirmed the effect of fl-bP into the PS dewetting, and the selective PS etching of thin films revealed the presence of fl-bP flakes. Finally, a block copolymer/fl-bP composite (1.2 wt.%) was prepared via in situ reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization by sonication-assisted exfoliation of bP into styrene. For this sample, 31P solid-state NMR and Raman spectroscopy confirmed an excellent preservation of bP structure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Polymer Blend Nanocomposites)
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