Understanding interfacial influence on properties of polymer nanocomposites

Polymer nanocomposites (PNCs), and plant fiber reinforced polymer biocomposites (GBCs), and nano-biocomposites (GPNCs) are versatily applied in various industrial, automotive, aerospace, marine, and oil and gas sectors because of their design flexibility and vast range of properties. Researches have shown that composites behavior are highly dependant on the properties of its constituting components. However, numerious experimental and simulative studies have demonstrated that composite characteristics does not necessarily align with the rule of mixtures. This trend implies that other factors exist which influence the overall composites physicochemical behavior apart from properties of the constituting components. Polymer matrices/nanofillers interfacial interactions is a major parameter highly affecting nanocomposite behavior. Thus, this paper elucidates various interactions between PNCs components, aspects of polymer/fiber interface in GBCs, and GPNCs, their modes of enhancements, methods of measuring various interactions, and influence of interfacial interactions on selected properties of PNCs, GPNCs, and GBCs.