In recent years, the area of nanocomposites has received considerable attention with the expectation that nanotechnology can leas to lighter, better materials for engineering applications. For example, the attractiveness of polymer-clay nanocomposites resides in the potential of adding infinitesimally small clay platelets, to improve mechanical, thermal, barrier, and flame-retardant properties
... [Show full abstract] without increasing the specific gravity or reducing the transparency of the nanocomposite relative to the base material. One of the major roadblocks in the wider use of nanoclay platelets in thermoset and thermoplastic polymeric materials has been the poor dispersion of polar clay into a non-polar polymer matrix. It is believed that consistent improvements in strength and modulus of clay loaded polymeric system can be achieved by minimizing clay aggregation, promoting the formation of chemical bonds between polymer and clay and achieving exfoliation of clay. The other major problem that the nanocomposite community faces is the reduction in fracture toughness and failure strain of the nanocomposites due to the addition of clay.
