Block Copolymer Nanocomposites

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the synthesis and characterization of nanocomposites based on block copolymers. Because of the self-assembly capability of block copolymers for the generation of nanostructures, besides their ability to nanostructure thermosetting matrices such as epoxy and polyester, binary or ternary nanocomposites can be prepared with different nanofillers such as nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes. The book starts with a review on nanocomposites based on block copolymers and nanoparticles synthesized with the use of surfactants, followed by a review on nanocomposites with metallic nanoparticles with polymer brushes and those with carbon nanotubes. A chapter is devoted to binary systems based on block copolymers and nanoparticles synthesized by sol-gel. A review on nanocomposites based on thermosetting matrices nanostructured with block copolymers (amphiphilic or chemically modified) is also presented for both epoxy and polyester resins. The work on ternary systems based on thermosetting matrices, block copolymers, and nanoparticles is presented next. The book concludes with a discussion on nanocomposites based on epoxy and block copolymers with azobenzene groups for optical purposes.