Properties of polymer-nanoparticle composites

An overview of properties of polymer-nanoparticle composites in bulk and in solution is presented along with a review of work performed during the last 3 years. The review is particularly focused on organic-inorganic materials such as polymernanospheres, tubes, rods, fibers and nanoplatelets. Fundamental studies on flow-induced structures in polymer-particle composites are emphasized. This relatively new area demands sophisticated experiments to augment pragmatic knowledge necessary to support theoretical descriptions of composite structures and properties. The complexity of this area guarantees that this will remain an active field for some time to come. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.