Ultrasonication optimisation and microstructural characterisation for 3D nanoparticle dispersion in thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers
Abstract 3D nanoparticles are important as reinforcing or functional phase in polymer composite materials; however, an optimised deagglomeration and uniform distribution of these particles is required to fully exploit their nanoscale properties. Classical dispersion methods like shear mixing have proven insufficient, and high-energy ultrasonication, as the preferred deagglomeration method, requires a challenging system-specific optimisation procedure. …