ABSTRACT
The improvement in flammability for polymer/clay nanocomposites is not caused by a change of the combustion process in the condensed phase, but it is due to a physical barrier provided by the clay sheets. The absorption of water into polymer matrix composites or nanocomposites decreases the glass transition temperature and mechanical properties. The conductive nanocomposites have been used in variety of applications, including housings for cell phones and computers, lightning strike protection for aircraft, chemical sensors, and transparent conductive coatings. The chemical functionalization can significantly affect the dispersability of the carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and the functionalization of CNTs can increase the mechanical properties of the nanocomposite by forming stronger bonds between the matrix and the nanotube. An improvement in modulus and strength for particles-filled polymer nanocomposites depends strongly on the degree of interaction between the particles and the polymer. The mechanical properties of the nanocomposites are also affected by the alignment of the fibers including Multiwalled carbon nanotubes.
