1 Materials for Polymer Nanocomposites 1
Jiji Abraham, Soney C. George, Rene Muller, Nandakumar Kalarikkal, and Sabu Thomas

1.1 Introduction, 1

1.3 Recent Developments and Opportunities in the Area of Polymer Nanocomposites, 16

1.4 Challenges in the Area of Polymer Nanocomposites, 17

1.5 Relationships of Macroscopic Rheological Properties to Nanoscale Structural Variables, 18

1.6 Conclusion, 19

Acknowledgments, 20

References, 20

2 Manufacturing Polymer Nanocomposites 29
Yuvaraj Haldorai and Jae-Jin Shim

2.1 Introduction, 29

2.2 Nanofillers, 30

2.3 Polymer Matrices, 36

2.4 Preparation of Nanocomposites, 37

2.5 Characterization, 58

2.6 Conclusions, 60

References, 61

3 Rheology and Processing of Polymer Nanocomposites: Theory, Practice, and New Challenges 69
Jean-Charles Majesté

3.1 Introduction, 69

3.2 Viscoelasticity of Nanocomposites, 72

3.3 Flow Properties of Nanocomposites, 92

3.4 Theory and Modeling of Nanocomposites Rheology, 103

3.5 Processing of Nanocomposites, 119

3.6 Conclusion and Futures Challenges, 125

Acknowledgments, 127

References, 127

4 Mixing of Polymers Using the Elongational Flow Mixer (RMX®) 135
Rigoberto Ibarra-Gómez and René Muller

4.1 Introduction, 135

4.2 Polymer Blends, 136

4.3 Polymer Nanocomposites, 147

4.4 Elongational Flow Mixer (RMX®), 151

4.5 RMX® Mixing of Polymer Blends, 158

4.6 Mixing of Polymer Nanocomposites, 173

4.7 Concluding Remarks, 182

References, 182

5 Rheology and Processing of Polymer/Layered Silicate Nanocomposites 187
Masami Okamoto

5.1 Introduction, 187

5.2 Nanostructure Development, 189

5.3 Novel Compounding Methods for Delamination of OMLFs, 199

5.4 Nanostructure and Rheological Properties, 202

5.5 Nanocomposite Foams, 222

5.6 Future Prospects, 230

References, 230

6 Processing and Rheological Behaviors of CNT/Polymer Nanocomposites 235
Mohan Raja, Modigunta Jeevan Kumar Reddy, Kwang Ho Won, Jae Ik Kim, Sang Hun Cha, Han Na Bae, Dae Hyeon Song, Sung Hun Ryu, and Andikkadu Masilamani Shanmugharaj

6.1 Introduction, 235

6.2 Processing Techniques of Polymer/CNT Nanocomposites, 237

6.3 Rheological Properties of Polymer/Carbon Nanotube Composites, 254

6.4 Summary, 274

Acknowledgment, 274

References, 274

7 Unusual Phase Separation in PS Rich Blends with PVME in Presence of MWNTs 279
Priti Xavier and Suryasarathi Bose

7.1 Introduction, 279

7.2 Experimental Methods, 280

7.3 Theory Background, 281

7.4 Results and Discussion, 284

7.5 Conclusions, 291

Acknowledgements, 291

References, 291

8 Rheology and Processing of Polymer/POSS Nanocomposites 293
Krzysztof Pielichowski, Tomasz M. Majka, and Konstantinos N. Raftopoulos

8.1 Introduction, 293

8.2 Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxanes, 296

8.3 Processing of Polymer/POSS Nanocomposites, 299

8.4 Rheological Behavior of POSS-Based Polymer Nanocomposites, 314

8.5 Conclusions, 318

Acknowledgments, 320

References, 320

9 Polymer and Composite Nanofiber: Electrospinning Parameters and Rheology Properties 329
Palaniswamy Suresh Kumar, Sundaramurthy Jayaraman, and Gurdev Singh

9.1 Introduction, 329

9.2 Electrospinning, 331

9.3 Electrospinning Process Parameters, 333

9.4 Polymer-Based Nanofiber and its Rheology, 337

9.5 Nanofiber and its Polymer Composites, 348

9.6 Conclusion, 351

References, 351

10 Rheology and Processing of Inorganic Nanomaterials and Quantum Dots/Polymer Nanocomposites 355
Sneha Mohan, Jiji Abraham, Oluwatobi S. Oluwafemi, Nandakumar Kalarikkal, and Sabu Thomas

10.1 Inorganic Nanoparticle Filled Polymer Nanocomposites, 356

10.2 Fabrication of Inorganic Nanoparticle Filled Polymer Nanocomposites, 356

10.3 Why Rheological Study is Important for Polymer Nanocomposites, 357

10.4 Rheology of Quantum Dot Based Polymer Nanocomposites, 359

10.5 Metal Oxide Nanoparticle-Based Polymer Nanocomposites, 366

10.6 Conclusion, 379

References, 379

11 Rheology and Processing of Laponite/Polymer Nanocomposites 383
Huili Li, Wenchen Ren, Jinlong Zhu, Shimei Xu, and Jide Wang

11.1 Introduction, 383

11.2 Rheology, 384

11.3 Processing, 388

11.4 Conclusions and Outlook, 399

Acknowledgement, 400

References, 400

12 Graphene-Based Nanocomposites: Mechanical, Thermal, Electrical, and Rheological Properties 405
Rachid Bouhfid, Hamid Essabir, and Abou el kacem Qaiss

12.1 Introduction, 405

12.2 Graphene, 407

12.3 The Use of Graphene in Nanocomposite Materials, 408

12.4 Nanocomposite Characterization, 412

12.5 Conclusion, 425

12.6 Future Perspective, 425

References, 426

13 Processing, Rheology, and Electrical Properties of Polymer/Nanocarbon Black Composites 431
Luís C. Costa and Manuel P. Graça

13.1 Introduction, 431

13.2 Experimental, 435

13.3 Electrical Properties of Carbon Black Composites and Applications, 437

13.4 Conclusion, 447

References, 447

14 Rheology and Processing of Nanocellulose, Nanochitin, and Nanostarch/Polymer Bionanocomposites 453
Carmen-Alice Teaca and Ruxanda Bodirlau

14.1 Introduction, 453

14.2 Biopolymers as Nanofillers for Polymer/Nanocomposites, 455

14.3 Potential Applications of Polysaccharide Nanofillers/Polymer Nanocomposites, 478

14.4 Conclusions and Future Perspectives, 481

References, 482

15 Rheology and Processing of Nanoparticle Filled Polymer Blend Nanocomposites 491
Chongwen Huang and Wei Yu

15.1 Rheology of Polymer Blends, 491

15.2 Effect of Nanoparticles on the Morphology of Polymer Blend, 509

15.3 Rheology of Nanoparticles Filled Polymer Blend, 531

15.4 Summary, 540

References, 541

16 Rheology as a Tool for Studying In Situ Polymerized Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposites 551
Guo-Hua Hu, Philippe Marchal, Sandrine Hoppe, and Christian Penu

16.1 Introduction, 551

16.2 Basic Principles of Rheokinetics, 552

16.3 Rheokinetics of In Situ Polymerization of Carbon Nanotube/Monomer Systems, 560

16.4 Rheological Percolation Threshold of Carbon Nanotube-Based Nanocomposites, 567

16.5 Concluding Remarks, 581

References, 581

Index 587