As I want to prepare the nano composite, I want to know the precautions to be taken while mixing nano particles in to the polymer resin with respect to
1. Proper dispersion of Particles
2. Any specialized equipment needed
3. Any health Hazards
4. other, If any
The entire Chapter 5 titled Preparation of filled polymer systems pages 175-242 in the book Aroon V. Shenoy, Rheology of Filled Polymer Systems, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Netherlands (1999) is dedicated to the mixing/blending/compounding of fillers into polymer melts. The sections include Goodness of mixing, Mixing mechanisms, Compounding techniques, Compounding/mixing variables. Going through this chapter should be able to address all your concerns regarding the precautions to be taken while mixing nano particles of metals with polymer resin.
Dear Dr. Shettar:
In the item 4. other, there are some aspects interesting at about metallic powders manipulation.
It is very important have at hands a full protocol, in specific: procedure, apparatus at residues and its correlation with the clean procedure.
Depending on the metal, spontaneous oxidation can take place at air. At one particle, exothermic phenomenon, an insignificant amount of thermal energy is liberated, but at a small portion or bit of powder under a cleanliness paper, can easily cause a fire.
Kind regards
Marcos Nobre
I would be very worried about using metal nanoparticles if you do not know what you are doing. Many metals oxidize, form hydroxides etc. with ambient air, and many become pyrophoric (auto-combustion). So apart from the risk of setting the lab on fire, if you do not treat them properly they will turn into metal (hydr)oxide passivated things with unpredictable properties. Presumably you want a predictible outcome so that is where the fun starts. Of course safety all depends on the volume of stuff you have in mind whether it is safe or not, using an inert gas like Ar or N2 (dried) to prevent oxidation (note Mg, Na, K, Ca, Ba can react with N2), pre-drying and otherwise purifying of the polymer, and so on. The good news is that when the the metal nanopowder start burning they only tend to get hot without emission of (too many) fumes. If the metal nanoparticles are Ag, Au, Pt then other concerns may be appropriate - like catalytic activity, if it is Fe(nano) than it is GRAS except for the pyrophoric side of things. All of the above plus getting a good dispersion by mixing, blending, extrusion and what have you sounds like a major project.
BE CAREFUL ✞☠✞
Perhalogenated and highly halogenated polymers (like PTFE , PCTFE, PTrFE, FEP, PFA etc) are effective propellants in mixtures with metals powders (Mg, Al, Be)
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