| Abstract Scope |
Nanocomposites composed of nanomaterials such as nanoparticles, nanoclays, nanofibers, nanotubes, and nanosheets, are of significant importance in the rapidly developing field of nanotechnology and nanocomposites. Due to the nanometer size of nanomaterials, their physicochemical characteristics differ significantly from those of micron-size and bulk materials. Since the building blocks of nanocomposites are at nanoscale, they have enormous surface areas with numerous interfaces between the two composites constituents, and hence influence the properties of the host structure to a larger extent as compared with their micron-size counterparts. The optimum amount of nanomaterials in the nanocomposites depends on the filler material, size, shape, homogeneity of particles distribution, and the interfacial bonding properties between the fillers and matrix. However, there are challenges in reaching this promise such as control over the distribution in size, orientation, dispersion of the nanomaterials and their functionalization. While the properties of the matrix can be improved by the inclusions of nanomaterials, the properties of the fibers can be improved by the growth of nanotubes on micro-fibers to make macro-composites, and hence the process is a bottom-up “hierarchical” advanced manufacturing technology, and since the resulting nanocomposites will have “multifunctionality” with improved properties in various functional areas such as chemical, physical, damping, stiffness, strength, fracture toughness, EMI shielding, and electrical and thermal conductivity, while reducing the coefficient of thermal expansion, the technology is in fact “hierarchical multifunctional nanocomposites.” Here, the current state of knowledge in processing, performance, and characterization of these materials are addressed for polymeric and ceramic matrix nanocomposites. |