A nanocomposite is a composite material whose dispersed phase constitutes particles at least one of whose free dimensions is in the order of a nanometre or a few dozen nanometres at maximum. Under this definition, many metal-matrix-based nanocomposites are gathered (for instance materials resulting from the dispersion of nanoparticles of oxide, nitride, or metal carbide in matrices or metal alloy), ceramic or inorganic matrices-based nanocomposites, or nanocomposites based on organic matrices. The last group is described in this chapter, with a particular focus on polymer matrices.

Inspec keywords: filled polymers; nanocomposites; nanoparticles; mechanical properties; X-ray diffraction; materials preparation; transmission electron microscopy

Other keywords: nanocomposite preparation; fire resistance properties; polymer matrices; transmission electron microscopy; organic matrix based nanocomposites; mechanical resistance; nanometric dispersed phase; nanocomposite applications; fluid barrier properties; X-ray diffraction; nanocomposite characterisation

Subjects: Methods of nanofabrication and processing