Strategies for Dispersing Nanoparticles in Polymers

Abstract

Controlling the dispersion of nanoparticles in polymeric matrices is the most significant impediment in the development of high-perform ance polymer nanocomposite ma te rials and results primarily from the strong interpar ticle interactions between the nanopar ticles. This review examines the theoretical and experimental strategies employed in developing appropriate chemical and physical methods to achieve controlled dispersion of nanopar ticles. Methods to characterize the state of dispersion, including force and electron micros copy, and scattering, electrical, and mechanical spectroscopy, are considered with special emphasis on achieving quantitative meas ures of the dispersion. Some of the outstanding issues, such as long-term aging and the implication for the dispersion of nanopar ticles, development of high-throughput methods for rapid screening, and methods for in-line monitoring, are also discussed.