Polymer composites and their properties

Abstract

The review article summarizes the results of studies conducted in the field of polymer composites obtained by various methods. An important industrial activity is structured around the development of polymeric materials and composites based on them. Composite materials having a matrix comprised of a polymeric material (polymers, oligomers, copolymers) are highly numerous and diverse. They are widely used in the industry for the manufacture of vitreous, ceramic, electrically insulating coatings, as adsorbents in the treatment of wastewater from heavy metal ions, and in the production of ion-exchange membranes. Composite materials have unique properties such as a large surface area, thermal and mechanical stability, good selectivity against various contaminants, and cost-effectiveness. The review presents the physicochemical and structural characteristics of composite materials based on synthetic polymers (polymer-carbon, polymerclay composites), polymeric heterocyclic and organosilicon compounds. Used across a variety of applications, polymer-carbon and polymer-clay composites are effective in removing organic and inorganic contaminants. However, when used as adsorbents for large-scale production, they have yet to achieve optimum performance. Hybrid materials obtained by the sol-gel method deserve special attention. This method can be conveniently used to influence the composition and structure of the surface layer of such materials as adsorbents of heavy and noble metals, catalysts, membranes and sensors for applications in biological antibiosis, ion exchange catalysis, etc. Such composites are characterized by their increased mechanical strength and thermal stability, as well as offering improved thermochemical, rheological, electrical and optical properties.