Nanoparticles in polymers, Nanoparticles applications

The use of conventional fillers (glass, carbon black, talc, etc.) in polymers is a well known process, by which a polymeric matrix is able to increase its own mechanical performances. Traditional fillers are effective only if present in composite material in percentage of 20-50% wt.; of course this high load of fillers causes collateral bad effects as: weight increment, difficulty in polymer workability, etc.

TEC STAR customizes and produces nanoparticles that, used as nanofillers in place of traditional fillers, are able to intercalate and bond to the polymer chains, as a consequence of their typical nanometric dimension and huge specific surface. In this way it is possible to tune different properties (mechanical, electrical, magnetic, flame resistance, etc.) with filler concentration within the matrix not larger than 2-5% wt. and with no variation of material workability.

Some effects of using nanoparticles as filler for nanomaterials, are:

• increasing toughness, surface hardness and impact resistance
• decreasing gas permeability, thanks to reduction of matrix porosity
• improvement of composite polymer adhesion to different substrates
• improvement in thermal stability (mechanical properties show failure at higher temperatures)
• reduction of abrasive wear coefficient
• preservation of matrix colour (or transparency)
• increasing flame resistance