Generation of Oxide Nanoparticles for Elastomeric Nanocomposites

One method that has been undertaken to achieve control over elastomer properties is through the introduction of fillers. Recently nanomaterials as fillers have been investigated, with intriguing results. However, the interfacial behavior between the elastomer and nanofiller has not been fully explored. The first step in elucidating control over this interface is through the engineering of the nanofiller. This work has focused on morphologically varied ceramic oxide nanomaterials for use as the filler, synthesized using aerosol spray pyrolysis (SP), solvothermal, and solution precipitation methods. This report focuses on the SP generated, oxide nanoparticles utilizing aluminum nitrate and iron nitrate as precursors. The processing used was based on our previous work with the iron nitrate where complex morphologies were generated through the use of gel-forming and organic additives. Examples of additives that have been explored include citric acid, methylcellulose, and glycine. In addition important processing variables (e.g. temperature, residence time) were systematically varied to influence the size and shape of particles.

Sandia is a multiprogram laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin Company, for the United States Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000