3. Structure of nanocomposites

3.1 Morphology of nanocomposites

• Depending on the method used for production, the type of clay used (organically modified or not) or the polymer matrix, it is possible to obtain three main types of different structures.

  • The first type corresponds to the structure of a conventional filled polymer (microcomposite), in which the clay is dispersed at best only in the form of primary particles or agglomerates (Figure 4 a) and the polymer does not intercalate between the clay layers.

  • The first typical structure of nanocomposites is the so-called intercalated structure (Figure...