Nanocomposite

Nanocomposite
In the field of nanotechnology, nanocomposite has various applications and commercial development. Nanocomposites are found in nature and can be defined as a multiphase solid material where one of the phases has one, two or three dimensions of less than 100 nanometers (nm).
Polymer nanocomposites represent a new class of material alternative to conventional filled polymers. To offer tremendous improvement in performance properties of the polymer, nanosized inorganic filler are dispersed in polymer matrix.

In 1990 Toyota first used clay/nylon-6 nanocomposites for Toyata car in order to produce timing belt covers. The mechanical, electrical, thermal, optical, electrochemical, catalytic properties of the nanocomposite will differ from the component materials.
Size limits for these effects:
<5 nm for catalytic activity
<20 nm for making a hard magnetic material soft
<50 nm for refractive index changes,
<100 nm for achieving superparamagnetism, mechanical strengthening or restricting matrix dislocation movement.