Compatibilization of polymer blends by micro and nanofillers

Abstract Most polymer materials are multiphase complex systems obtained through the blending of two or more polymers and are not homogeneous. Polymeric blend composites and nanocomposites using microfillers like carbon black, glass fibers, silica and nanofillers like nanoclay, nanosilica, carbon nanotubes, and ceramic or mineral nanoparticles are already used diversely in applications. Most of the incompatible blends show poor properties compared with individual polymer components. But incorporation of fillers improves the properties very much. In this chapter a brief explanation of the principles relating to the compatibilization of polymer blends by fillers are included. The various factors needed for improving performance of polymers and the basic principles underlying these surface interactions are discussed in the chapter. Compatibilizing agents are very important in developing high-performance, property-enhanced polymer blends. The possibility of fillers as compatibilizer is focused in the current research. The present chapter deals with compatibilization action of micro and nano fillers, the main methods of compatibilization by fillers, theories, and some reported works based on the micro and nanofiller compatibilization.