Language
Country/Area
No result found
From micro to nano: How do nanopolymers revolutionize our materials science?
Nanopolymer composites (PNCs) consist of polymers or copolymers and nanoparticles or fillers dispersed in a polymer matrix. These nanoparticles can have a variety of shapes (e.g., flakes, fibers, spheres), but at least one dimension must be in the range of 1 to 50 nanometers. These PNCs belong to multiphase systems (MPS, such as blends, composites and foams) and account for 95% of global plastic production. These systems require controlled mixing/reinforcement, stabilization of the resulting dispersion, and orientation of the dispersed phase, and the reinforcement strategies for all MPSs, including PNCs, are similar.
Polymer nanoscience refers to the application of nanoscience to the study and application of polymer-nanoparticle matrices, where at least one dimension of the nanoparticle is less than 100 nanometers. The process of transforming microparticles into nanoparticles results in changes in their physical and chemical properties. One of the main factors for this change is the increase in surface area to volume ratio and the change in particle size. As the particle size decreases, the surface area to volume ratio increases, making the behavior of the atoms on the particle surface become more dominant in the reaction.
“The higher surface area of nanopolymers allows for stronger interactions with other particles, which in turn enhances properties such as strength and heat resistance.”
For example, silicon nanospheres show a big difference from conventional silicon; their diameters range from 40 to 100 nanometers and their hardness is between sapphire and diamond. Nanopolymer composites can also be prepared by continuous infiltration synthesis (SIS) in which inorganic nanomaterials grow in a polymer matrix via diffusion of vapor-phase precursors.
Bio-hybrid polymer nanofibers
Many technological applications of biological substances (e.g. proteins, viruses or bacteria), such as chromatography, optoelectronic information technology, sensors, catalysis and drug delivery, require their immobilization. Carbon nanotubes, gold particles, and synthetic polymers are often used for this purpose. Immobilization of biological substances is mainly achieved by adsorption or chemical bonding, less often using these substances as guests in the host matrix.
"Polymers provide a good platform for the immobilization of biomass due to the availability of a wide variety of natural or synthetic macromolecules and advanced processing technologies."
Preparation of biohybrid nanotubes
Polymer fibers are usually produced on a technical scale by extrusion technology, where a polymer melt or a polymer solution is pumped through a cylindrical die and then spun or drawn by a take-up device. Today, electrospinning remains the best polymer processing technology for shrinking diameters to hundreds of nanometers or even a few nanometers. By applying a strong electric field, a fluid jet is ejected from the top of the droplet until a solid nanofiber is formed.
Applications of Nanotubes
Nanotubes can also be used for drug delivery, particularly in cancer treatment. Their role is to protect the drug from destruction in the blood, control the dynamics of drug release, and provide transport capabilities to specific targets. Not only that, nanotubes with responsive polymers can also control the opening and release of the tube mouth through chemical modification.
"The nanotube core-shell fibers are able to capture biological material without affecting their functionality, which makes them potentially useful in biosensors."
Engineering Applications of Nanopolymers
Among engineering applications, nanopolymer composites play an important role in the automotive tire industry as their superior properties help improve fuel efficiency. In addition, nano-polymer composites are also used in high-temperature environments due to their excellent heat resistance.
While developments in the field of nanopolymers are rapid, they still face limitations. For example, drug release from nanofibers has not yet been precisely controlled and typically occurs in a burst. And with the development of future technology, we naturally look forward to more possibilities.
How can the properties of nanopolymers be better exploited to solve future materials science challenges?
