Recent advances and perspectives on starch nanocomposites for packaging applications

Starch nanocomposites are popular and abundant materials in packaging sectors. The aim of this work is to review some of the most popular starch nanocomposite systems that have been used nowadays. Due to a wide range of applicable reinforcements, nanocomposite systems are investigated based on nanofiller type such as nanoclays, polysaccharides and carbonaceous nanofillers. Furthermore, the structures of starch and material preparation methods for their nanocomposites are also mentioned in this review. It is clearly presented that mechanical, thermal and barrier properties of plasticised starch can be improved with well-dispersed nanofillers in starch nanocomposites.     

Printing Polymer Nanocomposites and Composites in Three Dimensions

Recent advances in materials science and three‐dimensional (3D) printing hold great promises to conceive new classes of multifunctional materials and components for functional devices and products. Various functionalities (e.g., mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties, magnetism) can be offered by the nano‐ and micro‐reinforcements to the non‐functional pure printing materials for the realization of advanced materials and innovative systems. In addition, the ability to print 3D structures in a layer‐by‐layer manner enables manufacturing of highly‐customized complex features and allows an efficient control over the properties of fabricated structures. Here, the authors present a brief overview mainly over the latest progresses in 3D printing of multifunctional polymer nanocomposites and microfiber‐reinforced composites including the benefits, limitations, and potential applications. Only those 3D printing techniques that are compatible with polymer nanocomposites and composites, that is, materials that have already been used as printing materials, are introduced. The very hot topic of 3D printing of thermoplastic composites featuring continuous microfibers is also briefly introduced.     

Bionanocomposites: A New Concept of Ecological,Bioinspired, and Functional Hybrid Materials

Bionanocomposites represent an emerging group of nanostructured hybrid materials. They are formed by the combination of natural polymers and inorganic solids and show at least one dimension on the nanometer scale. Similar to conventional nanocomposites, which involve synthetic polymers, these biohybrid materials also exhibit improved structural and functional properties of great interest for different applications. The properties inherent to the biopolymers, that is, biocompatibility and biodegradability, open new prospects for these hybrid materials with special incidence in regenerative medicine and in environmentally friendly materials (green nanocomposites). Research on bionanocomposites can be regarded as a new interdisciplinary field closely related to significant topics such as biomineralization processes, bioinspired materials, and biomimetic systems. The upcoming development of novel bionanocomposites introducing multifunctionality represents a promising research topic that takes advantage of the synergistic assembling of biopolymers with inorganic nanometer‐sized solids.     

Preparation and characterization of graphene/NiO nanocomposites

Graphene-based nanocomposites are emerging as a new class of materials that hold promise for many applications. In this article, we present a facile approach for the preparation of graphene/NiO nanocomposites using graphite oxide and nickel chloride as starting materials. The as-synthesized composites were characterized using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform-Infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, and differential scanning calorimetry analyses. It was shown that graphene sheets were decorated by the in situ-formed NiO nanoparticles to form a film-like composite structure and as a result, the restacking of the as-reduced graphene sheets was effectively prevented. The NiO-coated graphene nanocomposites can be expected to remarkably improve the electrochemical properties of NiO and would be the promising candidates for a variety of applications in future nanotechnology.     

Morphology-controlled fabrication of sulfonated graphene/polyaniline nanocomposites by liquid/liquid interfacial polymerization and investigation of their electrochemical properties

A novel morphology-controlled strategy has been developed to fabricate sulfonated graphene/polyaniline (SGEP) nanocomposites by liquid/liquid interfacial polymerization. Sulfonated graphene (SGE) sheets were synthesized and used as both a macromolecular acid dopant and substrate for the polymerization of polyaniline (PANI), affording the SGEP nanocomposites. The morphology of PANI in the nanocomposites can be controlled to be either nanorods or nanogranules by varying the synthesis conditions. The morphology of SGEP and the shape of PANI can be tuned by adding an additional dopant and varying the amount of SGE used, and this had a significant influence on the electrochemical performance of the nanocomposites as supercapacitor electrode materials. The SGEP nanocomposite with PANI nanorods exhibited a specific capacitance of 763 F/g with a capacity retention of 96% after 100 cycles and good rate properties. Composites obtained with HCl as an additional acid dopant with two different ratios of SGE to PANI showed higher specific capacitances of 793 and 931 F/g, but lower capacity retention after 100 cycles of 77% and 76%, respectively.      

Nanoscale Ionic Materials

Polymer nanocomposites (nanoparticles dispersed in a polymer matrix) have been the subject of intense research for almost two decades in both academic and industrial settings. This interest has been fueled by the ability of nanocomposites to not only improve the performance of polymers, but also by their ability to introduce new properties. Yet, there are still challenges that polymer nanocomposites must overcome to reach their full potential. In this Research News article we discuss a new class of hybrids termed nanoparticle ionic materials (NIMS). NIMS are organic–inorganic hybrid materials comprising a nanoparticle core functionalized with a covalently tethered ionic corona. They are facilely engineered to display flow properties that span the range from glassy solids to free flowing liquids. These new systems have unique properties that can overcome some of the challenges facing nanocomosite materials.     

Synthesis and characterization of laminated hydroxyapatite/chitosan nanocomposites

Natural composite materials such as bones and seashells have been refined and perfected over millions of years of evolutionary selection. Thus they possess many advantages both on micro-structures and macroscopical performances. Inspired by the natural composites, for the first time, laminated hydroxyapatite (HAp)/chitosan (CS) nanocomposites were prepared by means of solution intercalation in this paper. Intercalated and exfoliated structures were obtained by varying CS contents. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) result reveals that there is interaction between HAp and CS. Tensile strength test indicates that the HAp lamellae can improve the poor strength of CS evidently, especially in moist environments. The results reported here can be expanded to other HAp-polymer systems, thus may offer a new approach for fabricating biomimetic nanocomposites.     

Shaping Liquid Crystals with Gold Nanoparticles: Helical Assemblies with Tunable and Hierarchical Structures Via Thin-Film Cooperative Interactions

The availability of helical assemblies of plasmonic nanoparticles with precisely controlled and tunable structures can play a key role in the future development of chiral plasmonics and metamaterials. Here, a strategy to efficiently yield helical structures based on the cooperative interactions of liquid crystals and gold nanoparticles in thin films is developed. These nanocomposites exhibit exceptional long-range hierarchical order across length scales, which results from the growth mechanism of nanoparticle-coated twisted nanoribbons and their ability to form organized bundles. The helical assembly formation is governed by the presence of rationally functionalized nanoparticles. Importantly, the thickness of the achieved nanocomposites can be reversibly reconfigured owing to the polymorphic nature of the liquid crystal. The versatility of the proposed approach is demonstrated by preparing helices assembled from nanoparticles of different geometries and dimensions (spherical and rod-like). The described strategy may become an enabling technology for structuring nanoparticle assemblies with high precision and fabricating optically active materials.     

Versatile Macroscale Concentration Gradients of Nanoparticles in Soft Nanocomposites

Nanocomposite materials benefit from the diverse physicochemical properties featured by nanoparticles, and the presence of nanoparticle concentration gradients can lend functions to macroscopic materials beyond the realm of classical nanocomposites. It is shown here that linearity and time‐shift invariance obtained via the synergism of two independent physical phenomena—translational self‐diffusion and shear‐driven dispersion—may give access to an exceptionally high degree of flexibility in the design of scalable and programmable long‐range concentration gradients of nanoparticles in solidifiable liquid matrices.     

25th Anniversary Article: Artificial Carbonate Nanocrystals and Layered Structural Nanocomposites Inspired by Nacre: Synthesis,Fabrication and Applications

Rigid biological systems are increasingly becoming a source of inspiration for the fabrication of next generation advanced functional materials due to their diverse hierarchical structures and remarkable engineering properties. Among these rigid biomaterials, nacre, as the main constituent of the armor system of seashells, exhibiting a well‐defined ‘brick‐and‐mortar’ architecture, excellent mechanical properties, and interesting iridescence, has become one of the most attractive models for novel artificial materials design. In this review, recent advances in nacre‐inspired artificial carbonate nanocrystals and layered structural nanocomposites are presented. To clearly illustrate the inspiration of nacre, the basic principles relating to plate‐like aragonite single‐crystal growth and the contribution of hierarchical structure to outstanding properties in nacre are discussed. The inspiration of nacre for the synthesis of carbonate nanocrystals and the fabrication of layered structural nanocomposites is also discussed. Furthermore, the broad applications of these nacre inspired materials are emphasized. Finally, a brief summary of present nacre‐inspired materials and challenges for the next generation of nacre‐inspired materials is given.     

Laser-induced processes in the IR range in nanocomposites with fullerenes and carbon nanotubes

Laser-induced processes in the IR spectral range, which are related to manifestations of the optical limiting in composite systems containing fullerenes and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), have been studied. Organic materials based on polyimides (PIs), 2-cyclooctylamine-5-nitropyridine (COANP), polyanilines, and dispersed liquid crystal (LC) structures were used as nanoparticle-sensitized matrices. Manifestations of optical limiting in the IR range at 1047, 1080, 1315, and 2940 nm are demonstrated and the position of composites studied among other systems used for optical limiting in the IR range is determined. The optical limiting at 1080 nm in CNT-containing solutions and LC cells was studied and the levels of limiting in thin-film PI-based nanocomposites with CNTs are established. A microscopic examination of thin PI films with CNTs revealed the structure of quasi-photonic crystals formed in these systems.     

Effect of organoclay addition on the two-body abrasive wear characteristics of polyamide 6 nanocomposites

Polymer clay nanocomposites (PCN) exhibit improved mechanical properties due to nanolevel dispersion of clay in the polymer matrix. They also exhibit good tribological performance under dry sliding conditions. Abrasive wear behaviour of these materials would be different from dry sliding behaviour as the mechanisms of the both are entirely different. Hence the abrasive wear behaviour of these materials needs to be investigated. The abrasive wear characteristics of polyamide 6 nanocomposites, with 1, 3 and 5% (wt.) clay prepared by melt intercalation technique, under two-body abrasive wear conditions have been reported. Abrasive wear tests were conducted using a pin-on-disc tribometer containing an abrasive counterface. All the polyamide nanocomposites investigated exhibited a low abrasive wear resistance compared with pristine Nylon. The wear performance of the nanocomposites was correlated with the mechanical properties. Dominant ploughing and cutting wear were observed in polymer clay nanocomposites. The amount of clay present alters the wear mechanism.     

Polymer-clay nanocomposites as precursors of nanostructured carbon materials for electrochemical devices: templating effect of clays

The present work introduces a comparative study on the use of polymer nanocomposites containing clay minerals of different structure, such as montmorillonite and sepiolite as host solids for the templating synthesis of carbon-like materials from different organic precursors. Carbon-clay nanocomposites were obtained by polymerization of either acrylonitrile or sucrose previously inserted in the pores of the clay minerals, followed by their further thermal transformation in carbon-like compounds. Acid treatment of the resulting carbon-clay nanocomposites removes the inorganic templates giving carbon-like materials with different textural features. Polymer-clay, carbon-clay and carbon-like materials have been characterized by applying spectroscopic techniques as FTIR and in situ EIS (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) and other structural, textural and analytical tools (chemical analysis, XRD, SEM-EDX, TEM-EDX, N2 adsorption isotherms,...). Electrochemical properties of these carbon-clay nanocomposites, as well as their templated carbonaceous materials and their use as electrode materials of different electrochemical devices such as rechargeable Li-batteries, supercapacitors and electrochemical sensors, are also discussed.     

SiO2含量对新型PA6/EP/SiO2纳米材料体系聚合反应的影响

采用廉价的环氧树脂(EP)与正硅酸乙酯(TEOS)反应生成改性前驱体,然后水解,再将水解液与熔融己内酰胺混匀,通过原位生成法制备出新型PA6/EP/SiO2纳米复合材料。研究了SiO2无机粒子的加入对PA6聚合反应的影响。端基分析和高效液相色谱仪(HPLC)测试结果表明:随SiO2加入量的增加,PA6分子量及低聚物含量有下降趋势。     

Surface science and model catalysis with ionic liquid-modified materials

Materials making use of thin ionic liquid (IL) films as support-modifying functional layer open up a variety of new possibilities in heterogeneous catalysis, which range from the tailoring of gas-surface interactions to the immobilization of molecularly defined reactive sites. The present report reviews recent progress towards an understanding of "supported ionic liquid phase (SILP)" and "solid catalysts with ionic liquid layer (SCILL)" materials at the microscopic level, using a surface science and model catalysis type of approach. Thin film IL systems can be prepared not only ex-situ, but also in-situ under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions using atomically well-defined surfaces as substrates, for example by physical vapor deposition (PVD). Due to their low vapor pressure, these systems can be studied in UHV using the full spectrum of surface science techniques. We discuss general strategies and considerations of this approach and exemplify the information available from complementary methods, specifically photoelectron spectroscopy and surface vibrational spectroscopy.     

Temperature-activated interfacial friction damping in carbon nanotube polymer composites

Effect of temperature on interfacial sliding in single-walled carbon nanotube polycarbonate composites is investigated experimentally. We show that interfacial slip at the tube-polymer interfaces can be activated at relatively low dynamic strain levels ( approximately 0.35%) by raising temperature to approximately 90 degrees C. We attribute this to increased mobility of the polymer chain backbones at elevated temperatures and thermal relaxation of the radial compressive stresses at the tube-polymer interfaces. These results show the potential of polymer nanocomposites as high-temperature damping materials for vibration and acoustic suppression in a variety of dynamic systems.     

Processing of PMMA nanocomposites containing biocompatible GO and TiO2 nanoparticles

The present study addresses the synthesis and characterization of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)/graphene oxide (GO) and PMMA/GO?+?TiO₂ nanocomposites for potential application as dental materials. PMMA/0.0025?wt% GO and PMMA/0.0025 wt%GO?+?1?wt% TiO₂ were processed using twin-screw extrusion including melt compounding. The mechanical, thermal, and microstructural behaviors of nanocomposites were determined and compared with pure PMMA. The results of this work revealed that PMMA nanocomposites are potential candidates as dental materials.     

Smart polymers and nanocomposites for 3D and 4D printing

Smart materials, also known as intelligent materials, which are responsive to the external stimuli including heat, moisture, stress, pH, and magnetic fields, have found extensive applications in sensors, actuators, soft robots, medical devices and artificial muscles. Using three-dimensional (3D) printing techniques for fabrication of smart devices allows for complex designs and well-controlled manufacturing processes. 4D printing is attributed to the 3D printing of smart materials that can be significantly transformed over time. Herein the smart materials including hydrogels and polymeric nanocomposites used in 4D printing were reviewed and the fundamental mechanisms responsible for the functionalities were discussed in detail. In this report, 4D printing of smart systems and their applications in sensors, actuators and biomedical devices were reviewed to provide a deeper understanding of the current development and the future outlook.     

Problem of hydroxyapatite dispersion in polymer matrices: a review

This review summarizes recent work on manufacturing biocomposites suitable for bone tissue engineering. There is a great need to engineer multi-phase (i.e. composite) materials that combine the advantages exhibited by each component of the material, with a structure and composition similar to that of natural bone. The discussion concentrates on the preparation of nanocomposites containing hydroxyapatite particles (one of the most widely used bioceramics materials) with polymer matrices. Special attention is paid to the preparation of nanocomposites with individual (non-aggregated) nanoparticles because this is a key problem in nanotechnology industrialization. Controlling the mixing between so two dissimilar phases is a critical challenge in the design of these inorganic-organic systems. Several approaches that may be applied to overcome this problem will be described in this review.     

Furan-Based Bionanocomposites Reinforced with a Hybrid System of Carbon Nanofillers

Bionanocomposites based on poly(trimethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate)-block-poly(tetramethylene oxide) (PTF-b-F-PTMO) with various contents of carbon nanofibers, graphene nanoplatelets and a hybrid system of these nanoparticles are synthesized via in situ polymerization. The dispersion of nanoparticles in the nanocomposites is determined using a scanning electron microscope and optical microscopy images. The thermal properties are studied employing differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis. The melt viscosity of the synthesized materials is determined using rheological measurements. Mechanical properties, along with the thermal and electrical conductivity, are also analyzed. The synthesized polymer nanocomposites are processed using injection molding and they display mechanical properties of elastomers during mechanical testing, which indicates that the obtained materials are, in fact, thermoplastic elastomers (TPE). Compared to a neat matrix (PTF-b-F-PTMO 50/50), the incorporation of nanoparticles causes an increase in the value of the degree of crystallinity and the value of the tensile modulus values (E) of the nanocomposites. Such reinforced bionanocomposites are especially interesting from an applicative point of view. They can be used as components of fuel systems, bumpers, or cupholders.