It depends on kinds of polymers, nano-fillers and also the target properties of nanocomposites.

For instance, polymerization may provide nanocomposites with smaller size of nano-filler. However, the obtained samples by using melt blending may have larger nano-particle size. Therefore, the other physical and mechanical properties may be altered.

In addition, different kinds of devices in each these methods may alter the properties obtained composites.

This paper can be useful:

http://www.onecentralpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Chapter-4-TN-.pdf

Polymer nano-composites – synthesis techniques, classification and properties

Dear Maryam,

Each method has positives and negatives.

It depends on what you want to achieve with your nanocomposite.

This book chapter might be helpful:

Chapter The Processing of Nanocomposites

Regards.

Dear Maryam

It would be better to use blending mixing method, you can either use melt mixing or solution mixing depending on the quantity of polymer and filler you have. If you are working with less quantity you can use solution mixing. Both melt and solution mixing will give you different nanoparticle dispersion.

Polymer solvent

nano filler dispersion is very crucial for PNC.

http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0143-0807/36/6/063001/meta

It depends on the polymer, and type of the nanofiller. It also depends on your final goal. However the best method to achieve a good dispersion state is usually solution mixing.

Dear Maryam,

Actually, I agree with almost all above comments. The method choice really depends on your needs. But if you will choose polymerization in the presence of nanoparticles you should remember that the polymer shell can insulate nanoparticles from direct contacts in-between. It is good if you need suppressed agglomeration but if you need electrical percolation it can be a problem. Solution or melt mixing not always suppress agglomeration.

Yes as both process have different thermal history

hence crystallization affects

I usually do blending for nano composite preparation. Preferred is Blend mixing but for lower quantities opt for solution mix..The best method varies with the type of polymer and filler you are selecting.

Dear Maryam Mehrban,

Thanks for query related to best method for synthesis of polymer nanocomposites.

But I would like to tell you, your question are incomplete. Because you have to confirm with the application which you wanted to perform by synthesising polymer nanocomposite. A correct selection of the preparation method is critical to obtain nanomaterials with suitable properties. So here I am just providing you the information related to different types of method used for polymer nanocomposite synthesis.

The synthesis of polymers nanocomposites usually applies bottom-up or top-down methodologies.

In the bottom-up approach, precursors are used to construct and grow, from the nanometric level, well organised structures. Also, blocks-assembly or building block approaches can be used, where already formed entities or nano-objects are hierarchically combined to originate the desirable material. The building block approach has an advantage compared to in-situ nanoparticles formation, since at least one structural unit is well defined and usually does not has significant structural changes during the matrix formation. Chemical processes, such as, sol-gel, chemical vapour deposition (CVD), template synthesis or spray pyrolysis are employed as bottom-up methodologies.

Contrarily, top-down approach, bulk material is breaking down into smaller pieces or patterning using in most cases physical methods, as the dispersion layered silicates in polymer matrices.

Generally three ways are used to disperse inorganic nanoparticles into polymer matrices. The first uses the top-down methodology, which consists in the direct mixing of the filler into a polymeric matrix in solution or in melt. The second is based on in-situ polymerization in the presence of the nanoparticles previous obtained or in-situ synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles in the presence of polymer. The last one, inorganic and organic components are both formed in-situ. These two last methods are defined as bottom-up methodologies.

So these above methods are used but once if you clear the objective for your synthesis of polymer nanocomposite. We can help you in better way in choosing the best method.

Best Regards

Obtaining a composite of gold nanoparticles and polypyrrole can be found at the address. Gold nanoparticles are produced from electrical scrap.

Article Preparation of Gold Nanoparticles from the Metal Scrap

Solution mixing is usually preferred for lab studies of nanocomposites.But solution mixing is a solvent-consuming process,which is not suitable for industrial production.

melt compounding, is a feasible way for large-scale production.

Solution mixing is suitable for laboratory studies. However, for industrial applications, melt processing is a preferred choice because of its low cost and simplicity to facilitate large scale production for commercial applications. Melt blending is compatible with current industrial processes such as extrusion and injection molding.

You can follow

http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0143-0807/36/6/063001/meta