Overview and fundamentals of polymer nanocomposites

Material science has grown in popularity and use as a result of a strong need for composite materials that combine the benefits of both components. There has been a surge of attention toward the tailoring the structural features of materials on a nanometer scale during the last few years all over the world. Nanocomposites materials have been extensively researched in the scientific literature because they provide significant property benefits even when the nanoparticle proportion is minimal. Incorporating inorganic nanoparticles into polymer matrices is a strong method for imparting their intriguing and complementary features to polymer products. Polymer nanocomposites formulation is an important part of polymer nanotechnology, and it has advanced in development owing to their novel characteristics after nanoparticle integration. After incorporating a range of nanoparticles that vary in form, shape, surface area, and chemical organization, many nanocomposites consisting of synthetic polymers and/or biopolymers have been explored. Thus, polymer composites have risen to the top of the list of technologically important materials due to their vast range of uses. In this chapter, we’ll look at some examples of nanocomposites that can be made using different methods such as in situ polymerization, electrospinning, solution casting, melt extrusion, etc. This chapter will provide an overview of processing and characterization techniques, as well as physical, chemical, biological, and rheological features of polymer nanocomposites (PNCs). To encourage future work on the creation of ever more promising materials, the current problems and possible applications of these composites are presented. Finally, a full assessment of recent developments and patents in the field is offered, gradually demonstrating the prospects for the establishment of a variety of polymer nanocomposite materials. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.